The Point on January 1, 1942. Less than a month earlier, the Japanese had prompted America's entry into World War II with their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The country was at war and Pittsburgh would provide the steel, equipment and armaments necessary to win that war. But, at this time the country and its citizenry were shaken, and a boost in moral was critical. Soon, the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo would provide that moral boost, and from then on it was all downhill for the Axis. The picture below was taken in March of 1942. Doolittle's planes took off one month later, on April 18. The ordinance they dropped was made right here in Pittsburgh.