Once training on land was completed, the fleet set sail on the Pacific. The strike force was then awaiting for the time in which they would embark on the vengeful mission. It was led by two submarines, the Thresher and the Trout. The aircraft attack force consisted of 16 B25 bombers located on the USS Hornet. The fleet also included six ships which included the USS Nashville and, the previously mentioned USS Hornet.
After the strike force had been spotted by a Japanese fishing vessel (which was then sunk by the USS Nashville), pilots had to man their aircrafts for a premature attack. The aircraft strike force was sent to attack four major cities in Japan, one being the capitol city, Tokyo. The strike force was further off the coast of Japan than orginally planned. It was unsure whether the aircrafts could bomb Japan, and make it to a safe landing spot in China.
Even with the U.S.'s weakened forces, and being a premature attack, the attack force had accomplished waht they had gone to do: prove that America would not be taken down so easily, and that we would rise to a challenge. Out of 16 B25 bombers, each aircraft manned with five men, only eight men were reported dead after the attack.