<P> Hornet and Task Force 18 got underway from San Francisco Bay at 08: 48 on 2 April with the 16 bombers in clear view . At noon the next day, parts to complete modifications that had not been finished at McClellan were lowered to the forward deck of the Hornet by Navy blimp L - 8 . A few days later, the carrier met with Task Force 16, commanded by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.--the carrier USS Enterprise and her escort of cruisers and destroyers in the mid-Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii . Enterprise's fighters and scout planes provided protection for the entire task force in the event of a Japanese air attack, since Hornet's fighters were stowed below decks to allow the B - 25s to use the flight deck . </P> <P> The combined force was two carriers (Hornet and Enterprise), three heavy cruisers (Salt Lake City, Northampton, Vincennes), one light cruiser (Nashville), eight destroyers (Balch, Fanning, Benham, Ellet, Gwin, Meredith, Grayson, Monssen), and two fleet oilers (Cimarron and Sabine). The ships proceeded in radio silence . On the afternoon of 17 April, the slow oilers refueled the task force, then withdrew with the destroyers to the east while the carriers and cruisers dashed west at 20 knots (37 km / h; 23 mph) toward their intended launch point in enemy - controlled waters east of Japan . </P> <P> At 07: 38 on the morning of 18 April, while the task force was still about 650 nautical miles (1,200 km; 750 mi) from Japan (around 35 ° N 154 ° E ﻿ / ﻿ 35 ° N 154 ° E ﻿ / 35; 154), it was sighted by the Japanese picket boat No. 23 Nittō Maru, a 70 - ton patrol craft, which radioed an attack warning to Japan . The boat was sunk by gunfire from USS Nashville . The chief petty officer who captained the boat committed suicide rather than be captured, but five of the 11 crew were picked up by Nashville . </P> <P> Doolittle and Hornet skipper Captain Marc Mitscher decided to launch the B - 25s immediately--10 hours early and 170 nautical miles (310 km; 200 mi) farther from Japan than planned . After respotting to allow for engine start and runups, Doolittle's aircraft had 467 feet (142 m) of takeoff distance . Although none of the B - 25 pilots, including Doolittle, had ever taken off from a carrier before, all 16 aircraft launched safely between 08: 20 and 09: 19 . The B - 25s then flew toward Japan, most in groups of two to four aircraft, before flying singly at wave - top level to avoid detection . </P>

What were the goals of the philippines immediately following ww2