On which aircraft carrier did the Doolitte Raid launch from on April 18, 1942 during World War II?

The story behind the answer

USS Hornet (CV-8) is correct because the 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers of the Doolittle Raid launched from its deck on April 18, 1942, under Lt. Col. James Doolittle. USS Enterprise did not carry the bombers; it escorted Hornet and provided air cover. Lexington and Saratoga were not involved in the mission.

The raid inflicted limited physical damage on Tokyo and other targets but delivered a huge psychological shock to Japan and a vital morale boost to the United States after Pearl Harbor. Its strategic ripple effects pressured Japan into riskier decisions that helped set the stage for the Battle of Midway. Memory tip: Doolittle’s bombers “stung” Tokyo—remember the stinging Hornet.