What effect does the angle of attack have on lift and drag? In general, what effect does the angle of attack have on lift and drag?

I understand the the B-25 take-off run was normally in excess of 1500 ft, the exact value dependent upon load, density altitude, pilot skill, etc. The B25s used in the 1942 Tokyo Raid had to take off from the Hornet deck in about 500 ft. I've heard that with coaching from a USN pilot, they learned to optimize the AoA so all 16 made it. So I am interested to know more about the trade-off of lift vs. drag.
As angle of attack increases, both lift and induced drag will increase until sometime after L/D max is achieved.  Beyond that the lift will decrease dramatically.  This fundamental principle is the same for Doolittle's raiders as it is for a Cessna 150.