Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders

by Carroll V. Glines

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders was a group eighty men from all walks of life who flew into history on April 18, 1942. They were all volunteers and this was a very dangerous mission. Sixteen B-25 bombers took off from the deck of the USS Hornet, led by (then Col.) Jimmy Doolittle. They were to fly over Japan, drop their bombs and fly on to land in a part of China that was still free. Of course, things do not always go as planned. The months following the attack on Pearl Harbor were the darkest of the war, as Imperial Japanese forces rapidly extended their reach across the Pacific. Our military was caught off guard, forced to retreat, and losing many men in the fall of the Philippines, leading to the infamous Bataan Death March. By spring, 1942, America needed a severe morale boost. The raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942, certainly provided that – cheering the American military and public. Yet, the Doolittle Raid meant so much more, proving to the Japanese high command that their home islands were not invulnerable to American attacks and causing them to shift vital resources to their defense. Two months later that decision would play a role in the outcome of the Battle of Midway, the American victory that would begin to turn the tide in the Pacific War.

Genres: World War II, History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Carroll Vane Glines, who retired from the United States Air Force as a colonel after twenty-seven years of service, is historian for the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and curator of the Doolittle Library at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has been published in a number of publications and written and co-authored numerous books on military and aviation history.

Reviews

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting bit of history about The first bombing raid against Japan. If you are a WWII history buff, you will enjoy this book.

[Ashley Burkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved this book. From the idea of a raid to choosing and training the men who would be a part of it, executing the raid and the aftermath. I especially appreciated the journal entries of one man from each crew. Each had similar observations and struggles during their journey yet each crew also had their different outcomes. Would highly recommend to anyone who might want to learn more about the Doolittle Raid, or for those who know nothing and want a good starter book that's easy to read.