Final answer:
1st Lt James Harold Doolittle led the first successful bombing raid on Japan, known as the Doolittle Raid, during World War II, which took off from an aircraft carrier and provided a significant morale boost to the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
1st Lt James Harold Doolittle was the first to achieve a successful bombing raid on the Japanese mainland during World War II. This was accomplished through the famous Doolittle Raid, which was a small-scale bombing raid against Japan launched from an aircraft carrier. On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers took off from the USS Hornet, led by Doolittle, to strike Tokyo in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Notably, this raid required modified bombers to take off from an aircraft carrier, a feat that had not been attempted before. Although the actual damage inflicted was minimal, the psychological impact was significant as it boosted American morale and showcased a vulnerability within Japanese defenses. This prompted the Japanese to attempt to address these security flaws and indirectly led to the pivotal Battle of Midway.