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Task Force 58 off the Coast of Japan

The US Navy’s raids on Japan in mid-February 1945 were the first major test for Japanese air units facing low-flying attackers over their homeland. For American airmen, it was an exhilarating, truly historic moment: they had the chance to strike at the heart of the Japanese Empire from aircraft carriers operating just a few dozen nautical miles off enemy shores.

TASK FORCE 58 OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN
Jan Bobek
Two enemy units’ perspectives
on the fighting in February 1945
The US Navy’s raids on Japan in mid-February 1945 were the first major
test for Japanese air units facing low-flying attackers over their homeland.
For American airmen, it was an exhilarating, truly historic moment: they
had the chance to strike at the heart of the Japanese Empire from aircraft
carriers operating just a few dozen nautical miles off enemy shores.
Task Force 58 o the Coast of Japan
Raids on Japan
When Japan became the target of a raid
by B-25 Mitchell bombers launched from
the aircraft carrier USS Hornet under Jimmy
Doolittle’s command in April 1942, the attack
did not come as a complete surprise. The
Japanese knew roughly where the American
ships were. What they did not expect was that
the carrier would be carrying twin-engine
bombers, which would continue on to the
Chinese interior.
The Americans had to launch the bombers
from USS Hornet 600 nautical miles from the
Japanese coast, rather than the originally
planned 400 nautical miles. They feared the
task force had been discovered. After the
raid, the Japanese Navy tried to pursue the
American force, but without success. The first
raids on Japan by four-engine B-29 bombers
began in the second half of 1944, from bases in
China. The Japanese military sought to disrupt
these bomber units’ operations, or stop them
altogether, through its advances. By the end
of 1944, however, B-29 formations had begun
raiding also from the south, from bases in the
Marianas.
After the Philippines were captured at the
turn of 1944–45, the Allies’ next targets for
amphibious landings were the islands of Iwo
Jima in mid-February 1945 and Okinawa in
early April.
Task Force 58
US Navy carriers did not approach the
Japanese coast again until nearly two years
later, in the first half of February 1945. Their
targets were airfields and other facilities in
the Tokyo area. The raids of 16 and 17 February
1945 were intended to weaken Japan’s ability
to strike at the Allied landings on Iwo Jima,
scheduled for 19 February.
The raid was to be carried out by Task
Force 58, commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A.
Mitscher. The same officer, then a skipper, had
commanded USS Hornet with rank of Captain
during the Doolittle Raid.
This time, however, his force had 11 fleet
aircraft carriers and five escort carriers at
its disposal. They were accompanied by eight
battleships, 14 cruisers and 77 destroyers.
The carriers’ air groups included not only US
Navy units but also several US Marine Corps
squadrons. Half of the carrier air groups had
yet to encounter the enemy. After several
months of raids by Japan’s special attack units,
known in the Japanese Navy as kamikaze, the
composition of US Navy carrier air groups
Reconstruction of the 17 February 1945 engagement by Piotr Forkasiewicz depicts Hellcats of VBF-3 from USS Yorktown clashing
with Zeros of Tsukuba Kōkūtai. In the foreground is the aircraft of Lt. Toshihide Kihara, who claimed one Hellcat shot down in the encounter.
INFO Eduard8
Listopad 2026November 2026

TASK FORCE 58 OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN

Task Force 58 off the Coast of Japan

Two enemy units’ perspectives on the fighting in February 1945

Jan Bobek

Reconstruction of the 17 February 1945 engagement by Piotr Forkasiewicz depicts Hellcats of VBF-3 from USS Yorktown clashing with Zeros of Tsukuba Kōkūtai. In the foreground is the aircraft of Lt. Toshihide Kihara, who claimed one Hellcat shot down in the encounter.

The US Navy’s raids on Japan in mid-February 1945 were the first major test for Japanese air units facing low-flying attackers over their homeland. For American airmen, it was an exhilarating, truly historic moment: they had the chance to strike at the heart of the Japanese Empire from aircraft carriers operating just a few dozen nautical miles off enemy shores.

Raids on Japan

When Japan became the target of a raid by B-25 Mitchell bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet under Jimmy Doolittle’s command in April 1942, the attack did not come as a complete surprise. The Japanese knew roughly where the American ships were. What they did not expect was that the carrier would be carrying twin-engine bombers, which would continue on to the Chinese interior.

The Americans had to launch the bombers from USS Hornet 600 nautical miles from the Japanese coast, rather than the originally planned 400 nautical miles. They feared the task force had been discovered. After the raid, the Japanese Navy tried to pursue the American force, but without success. The first raids on Japan by four-engine B-29 bombers

began in the second half of 1944, from bases in China. The Japanese military sought to disrupt these bomber units’ operations, or stop them altogether, through its advances. By the end of 1944, however, B-29 formations had begun raiding also from the south, from bases in the Marianas.

After the Philippines were captured at the turn of 1944–45, the Allies’ next targets for amphibious landings were the islands of Iwo Jima in mid-February 1945 and Okinawa in early April.

Task Force 58

US Navy carriers did not approach the Japanese coast again until nearly two years later, in the first half of February 1945. Their targets were airfields and other facilities in the Tokyo area. The raids of 16 and 17 February

1945 were intended to weaken Japan’s ability to strike at the Allied landings on Iwo Jima, scheduled for 19 February.

The raid was to be carried out by Task Force 58, commanded by Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher. The same officer, then a skipper, had commanded USS Hornet with rank of Captain during the Doolittle Raid.

This time, however, his force had 11 fleet aircraft carriers and five escort carriers at its disposal. They were accompanied by eight battleships, 14 cruisers and 77 destroyers.

The carriers’ air groups included not only US Navy units but also several US Marine Corps squadrons. Half of the carrier air groups had yet to encounter the enemy. After several months of raids by Japan’s special attack units, known in the Japanese Navy as kamikaze, the composition of US Navy carrier air groups

8

INFO Eduard

November 2026

Listopad 2026

Info EDUARD