 Four months after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the United States into World War II, American forces were looking for a way to strike back at the Empire of Japan. What was spawned was an idea that was so outlandish that many didn't believe it could succeed. 16 Army Air Corps B-25 bombers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle were loaded aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and sent towards mainland Japan. The plan was to get as close to the island of Japan as possible and launch the bombers on a one-way mission to bomb Tokyo. Detection by Japanese naval forces caused the commanding officer of the Hornet, Captain Mark Mitchell, and Doolittle to launch the raid early. All 16 bombers were able to get airborne from the deck of the carrier and 15 were able to drop their bombs on mainland Japan. To honor these events, members of the United States Congress presented a congressional gold medal to the United States Air Force on April 15. Immediately following the ceremony, a bronze replica of the gold medal was presented to the United States Navy for their involvement in the raid.