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U.S. Landmark Books #35
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Ted W. Lawson’s classic Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo appears in an enhanced reprint edition on the sixtieth anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Japan. “One of the worst feelings about that time,” Ted W. Lawson writes, “was that there was no tangible enemy. It was like being slugged with a single punch in a dark room, and having no way of knowing where to slug back.” He added, “And, too, there was a helpless, filled-up, want-to-do-something feeling that [the Japanese] weren’t coming—that we’d have to go all the way over there to punch back and get even.” Lawson gives a vivid eyewitness account of the unorthodox assignment that eighty five intrepid volunteer airmen—the “Tokyo Raiders”—under the command of celebrated flier James H. Doolittle executed in April 1942. The plan called for sixteen B-25 twin-engine medium bombers of the Army Air Corps to take off from the aircraft carrier Hornet , bomb industrial targets in Japan, and land at airfields in China. While the raid came off flawlessly, completely surprising the enemy, a shortage of fuel caused by an early departure, bad weather, and darkness took a heavy toll of the raiders. For many, the escape from China proved a greater ordeal. Peter B. Mersky provides new information on the genesis of the raid, places it in the context of the early operations against Japan, and updates Ted Lawson’s biography.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1943
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 8, 2014
This book, written in 1943, is an oldie but a goodie. I had always heard of it and finally decided to read it. This book is an eyewitness account of the 1942 Dolittle Raid over Tokyo. Sixteen B-25's bombed industrial targets in Japan at close range. The mission was a success and Captain Lawson's plane bombed its assigned targets in just 30 seconds. However, because of bad weather, the plane ran short on fuel and ended up crashing in China. Luckily Lawson and his men were rescued by the Chinese. Most of the men were very badly injured. Lawson lost all of his teeth and eventually his leg as well. It took them many months to finally get back home to the United States. Lawson had married right before he began training for this top secret mission and worried that his wife would be disgusted by his disfigurement from the crash. Lawson thought wrong though, and his wife and her family welcomed him back with open arms. I found this book to be very interesting. It seems I only hear about Hitler and Germany with regards to WWII. It was interesting to read this book describing this campaign which was a direct retaliation for the bombing of Pearl Harbor
May 26, 2012
I wonder why the word 'swell' fell out of favor as an adjective?
The book starts with these two sentences: " I helped bomb Tokyo on the Dolittle Raid of April 18, 1942. I crashed in the China Sea." (for more info on the raid, try this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittl... There are many others, some better, but this has the best overview).
I am a woman who was born several years after WWII ended, but heard 'war stories from the men of the family' so you might not think this would engage me, but it did. The book is the story of the Dolittle raid from one pilot's perspective, and more. This is basically a diary by a very young man and what he learned and became during one year of his life. This book is not about politics or war; it is about the daily life of a person in the midst of doing his job in a war.
Apparently a movie was made of this which I have not seen as yet but I plan to do so. The reader learns about basic flight school in the early 1940's and about the camaraderie that developed among the men. The author hints at the great love he had for the woman who became his wife. You learn about his love of the planes, especially the B-25, which he flew. His relationship with the plane is a big chunk of the first part of this story. It was his trustworthy friend. Based on the authors description of learning about the plane, I can imagine that learning how to fly those planes - blueprints, wiring, mechanics, etc. was a lot like writing code today.
Lawson's description of the fuselage art (nose art) for his plane was interesting, if scary in its prognostication. We learn about the faith these pilots had to put in their Navy counterparts on the aircraft carriers. In this case the famous Hornet and how the Navy men were very careful with their charges.
I followed the flight on google maps, and seeing it on modern technology makes the feat all the more remarkable. I plan on reading more about the raid.
And after the crash, I learned about the terror and emotional agony of losing a limb, almost dying and slowly realizing the leg is gone forever.
I learned about the 'kindness of strangers' and how the local Chinese saved and cared for these men. It reminded me that our current social and economic issues with China are with the government and not the people.
I guess this isn't a review as much as it is an awestruck response to this horrible and amazing tale. I am glad I read it this Memorial/Decoration Day weekend. It puts my sitting here in front of a computer in perspective.
Basically, this was a swell book .
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (not the edition listed here)
by Capt. Ted W. Lawson (no photo)
The book starts with these two sentences: " I helped bomb Tokyo on the Dolittle Raid of April 18, 1942. I crashed in the China Sea." (for more info on the raid, try this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittl... There are many others, some better, but this has the best overview).
I am a woman who was born several years after WWII ended, but heard 'war stories from the men of the family' so you might not think this would engage me, but it did. The book is the story of the Dolittle raid from one pilot's perspective, and more. This is basically a diary by a very young man and what he learned and became during one year of his life. This book is not about politics or war; it is about the daily life of a person in the midst of doing his job in a war.
Apparently a movie was made of this which I have not seen as yet but I plan to do so. The reader learns about basic flight school in the early 1940's and about the camaraderie that developed among the men. The author hints at the great love he had for the woman who became his wife. You learn about his love of the planes, especially the B-25, which he flew. His relationship with the plane is a big chunk of the first part of this story. It was his trustworthy friend. Based on the authors description of learning about the plane, I can imagine that learning how to fly those planes - blueprints, wiring, mechanics, etc. was a lot like writing code today.
Lawson's description of the fuselage art (nose art) for his plane was interesting, if scary in its prognostication. We learn about the faith these pilots had to put in their Navy counterparts on the aircraft carriers. In this case the famous Hornet and how the Navy men were very careful with their charges.
I followed the flight on google maps, and seeing it on modern technology makes the feat all the more remarkable. I plan on reading more about the raid.
And after the crash, I learned about the terror and emotional agony of losing a limb, almost dying and slowly realizing the leg is gone forever.
I learned about the 'kindness of strangers' and how the local Chinese saved and cared for these men. It reminded me that our current social and economic issues with China are with the government and not the people.
I guess this isn't a review as much as it is an awestruck response to this horrible and amazing tale. I am glad I read it this Memorial/Decoration Day weekend. It puts my sitting here in front of a computer in perspective.
Basically, this was a swell book .
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (not the edition listed here)
by Capt. Ted W. Lawson (no photo)
July 5, 2013
I am rating this as a 10 year old. Can't remember much about the book now, but I remember of liking it and reading it several times as a child..
July 10, 2019
I’ll admit it, I read this over forty years in grade school, but it still has a major impact on my introduction to World War Two. I was fortunate to attend a public school system in Tulsa, Oklahoma that exposed us to many topics. The first I read was I think Air War in Europe but sadly I can not find this publication. There were six of us who read them to see how fast we could finish it. Since my curiosity was peeked, I chose this one next.
Ted Lawson wrote at great account of the Doolittle Raid and what happened to the pilots who flew the mission. It didn’t glorify the war, it showed us young readers the facts of what these brave men were attempting to accomplish-take the war to the Empire and let them know we were still in the fight.
Ted Lawson wrote at great account of the Doolittle Raid and what happened to the pilots who flew the mission. It didn’t glorify the war, it showed us young readers the facts of what these brave men were attempting to accomplish-take the war to the Empire and let them know we were still in the fight.
November 7, 2011
the Book I'm reading is called Thirty seconds over Tokyo. The book is about the time Ted Lawson has up to a raid this raid was somewhat revenge for pearl harbor. The Doolittle raid was were B-25 liberators took off from an aircraft carrier and bombed cities in japan. This book is about how Ted live and where he went before the raid. It tells about the time the the USS.Hornet the carrier of the B-25. After the plane he piloted crashed it tells of the brave Chinese citizens who risked their lives by aiding them in escaping the Japanese army. tell about how the wounds made the escape more dangerous.i give this book a five star rating because it is a book which isn't hard to read it has allot of action and rarely any boring parts I strongly think that people should read this book because it is true but is very interesting
March 19, 2019
I am always riveted by firsthand accounts of war, and this was no exception. Ted Lawson is a true American hero. I'm in awe of the men from the greatest generation. They were raised humbly during the depression and then were thrust into a worldwide conflict. They never wavered but stayed the course and fought bravely for our country. The modesty of these men never cease to amaze me. Their love of America was most likely galvanized as they saw the horrific results of fascism, communism and socialism firsthand.
Contrast that with today's generation, who have grown up with the highest standard of living in the history of the world, and they're protesting in the streets, demanding that everything be free. Sad. God bless these brave men. Their generation is greatly missed.
Contrast that with today's generation, who have grown up with the highest standard of living in the history of the world, and they're protesting in the streets, demanding that everything be free. Sad. God bless these brave men. Their generation is greatly missed.
July 3, 2019
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a tightly focused yarn about Ted Lawson's participation in the Doolittle Raid. In the darkest days of 1942, with fascism on the march everywhere, a handful of pilots flying B-25s from the USS Hornet made a bee-sting raid on Japan. The raid had negligible material impact, but was an import moral boost.
Lawson's memoir moves swiftly through pilot training, to the raid itself, and then the meat of the book, the long journey home. Severely wounded while ditching his bomber, Lawson's leg was amputated in China, and he was carried to safety on vehicles ranging from stretchers to trucks.
This book was written for a popular audience, and published in the middle of the war. So it's limited in scope, but it's fun and its quick.
Lawson's memoir moves swiftly through pilot training, to the raid itself, and then the meat of the book, the long journey home. Severely wounded while ditching his bomber, Lawson's leg was amputated in China, and he was carried to safety on vehicles ranging from stretchers to trucks.
This book was written for a popular audience, and published in the middle of the war. So it's limited in scope, but it's fun and its quick.
April 16, 2019
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is an amazing book. I love how much detail Lawson put into each page. Each description I could almost see. He wasn't afraid to tell you stuff that might scare you. This book helped me see just how horrible WWII was for some people. It was nice that he started before the meat of the story starts because it gave me background that was not needed, but very useful. I didn't like how often he would say for. Although a minor detail, he said it a lot. I love this book 5/5
December 5, 2022
There are several things which make this book special. It is written in the first person by an aviator who flew a B-25 bomber in Doolittle's raid on the Japanese capital. It is an artifact of the era in which it was written (the mentions of the Japanese are neither respectful nor politically correct). And it made me cry. The story is an engaging one of patriotism and courage. Lawson suffered the loss of his leg in the aftermath of the raid and harbours no resentments about that. He identifies it as his sacrifice for the war effort. And he remembers the greater sacrifices of those who did not return. Reading sanitized versions of historical events is rather like reading the Classic Comics version of "Ivanhoe" or "Les Miserables" or "Great Expectations." The reader loses a lot of the flavour. One cannot understand the anti-Japanese racism of the 1940s and 1950s until one hears it from respectable people who harboured these resentments. Near the front of the book, there is a note from the publisher to this effect: "This is a Random House Wartime Book. The text is complete and unabridged, but every effort has been made to comply with the government's request to conserve essential materials." Inside the back flyleaf of the book, there is the following admonition: "After you have finished reading this book ... why not send it to some man in the services who needs good reading? Send it either to someone you know, to the U.S.O. office nearest you, or address it to: Commanding General, 4th Corps Area Headquarters, Atlanta, Ga., marked 'For Army Libraries.' Book postage rate is only 3 cents per lb. in the U.S. and its possessions." World War II was the last war in which the United States has participated which unified, rather than polarized, the citizenry. There is learning in this fact, as well.
April 11, 2024
Read this to my 9 year old after he learned about it in a graphic novel he had read. We both really enjoyed reading it together - I had never heard of this mission before and it had us right in the action. We’re excited to watch the movie now!
January 23, 2022
This book was really great. It is definitely of an era but touches on every topic I’d expect of a book from this time period. It was gripping!
October 12, 2024
Great book and an easy read.
November 22, 2020
A good book about the Doolittle raid over Tokyo in April 1942.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
December 14, 2017
It still captivates me to think a book written 74 years ago can still brilliantly inform a reader of the Doolittle Raid in his own personal view. The book Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is magnificent in entertaining the reader. But in a historical and non-fiction manner.
Captain Lawson begins his story with how he was introduced to the Army Air Force and how he joined. He then goes through the story of meeting his wife and training with his crew for the secret Doolittle Raid. He then informs the reader of leaving on an aircraft carrier with the sixteen B-25's. Lawson next tells of the raid itself and then the flight to the Chinese coast. To were inevitably Lawson bomber crash lands and his crew of 7 all being injured. Capt. Lawson losses all his teeth and alter his leg in the crash.
The Crew then begins the journey through China. Having the Japanese close behind them eager to catch those responsible of the raid. Lawson then describes the pain of losing his leg and trying to cope and continue running from the Japanese. He then is taken out of China but then goes through the several months of still returning back to America. He then finishes the book by describing the rest of his life after returning to his wife and newborn child with a missing leg and not being able to tell them of exactly what happened during the raid.
Captain Lawson begins his story with how he was introduced to the Army Air Force and how he joined. He then goes through the story of meeting his wife and training with his crew for the secret Doolittle Raid. He then informs the reader of leaving on an aircraft carrier with the sixteen B-25's. Lawson next tells of the raid itself and then the flight to the Chinese coast. To were inevitably Lawson bomber crash lands and his crew of 7 all being injured. Capt. Lawson losses all his teeth and alter his leg in the crash.
The Crew then begins the journey through China. Having the Japanese close behind them eager to catch those responsible of the raid. Lawson then describes the pain of losing his leg and trying to cope and continue running from the Japanese. He then is taken out of China but then goes through the several months of still returning back to America. He then finishes the book by describing the rest of his life after returning to his wife and newborn child with a missing leg and not being able to tell them of exactly what happened during the raid.
October 27, 2024
This is one of the most important accounts included in the "Landmark" library, written by a survivor of the famous Doolittle Raid, a herculean effort which resulted in the bombing of Tokyo (and other prominent targets in Japan) on April 18, 1942. The author is none other than Ted W. Lawson, captain and pilot of "The Ruptured Duck." He accomplished his mission, but due to a variety of factors, his plane ran out of fuel during their escape and crashed in China, resulting in severe injury for his entire crew, Lawson included. He was rescued by the Chinese, but lost all his teeth and eventually his leg in a series of amputations.
The prose is some of the most engaging I've read in this series. It reads as one would expect the author would sound: matter-of-fact, succinct yet informative and, often times, surprisingly emotive, considering the fact that Lawson was a pilot and engineer, men who aren't generally known for their exemplary writing ability. Lawson's book was initially published in six issues of "Collier's" Magazine, from May 22 to June 26, 1943. It was later published into a 220-page book by Random House. His autobiography was also adapted into a film in 1944, starring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, and won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.
This vital account tells one man's story - from his early upbringing to his marriage, to his service in the Air Corps and beyond, from a very personal perspective. It's not just an account of what occurred during the famous Doolittle raid; it's an eyewitness account of one who was intimately involved in the planning and execution of the famous "thirty second" mission that may well have turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.
Ted W. Lawson (1917-1994) was born in Alameda, California, and joined the US Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in March, 1940, before the US had even entered the war. He initially continued studying aeronautical engineering and had been working nights in the drafting department of the Douglas Aircraft Company. He met Ellen, his wife, as a student at LACC, and they married in Sept., 1941, just a few short months before the Pearl Harbor attack.
In short, the Doolittle raid was the first air campaign to strike the Japanese homeland directly, thus demonstrating to the population of Japan that it was indeed vulnerable to attack. The raid admittedly also served as retaliation for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, which caused far more damage. It was named for Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who also led the attack. In short: sixteen B-25B Mitchell bombers, each with a crew of five, were launched somewhat heroically from the deck of the aircraft carrier the USS Hornet, which was later sunk during a naval battle. The crews were instructed to drop their ordinance and continue on to landing sites in China, but things didn't quite work out as planned.
Owing to bad weather and an unanticipated sighting by a Japanese patrol boat, the bombers had to launch early - ten hours and 170 nautical miles further than anticipated, turning an expected nighttime raid into a daylight one, which the crews had not trained for and which was far more dangerous. Eighty airmen boarded the sixteen bombers, which had been heavily modified for the effort. They had additional fuel tanks installed and removal of protective steel plates to reduce the weight. Two bombers also had cameras mounted to record the bombing raid. Crews had to fly almost suicidally low to avoid detection and anti-aircraft measures, but all reached their targets.
After the raid, fifteen planes reached the Chinese coast after thirteen hours. One flew to and landed in the Soviet Union, where the plane and crew were held for many months, until they were finally allowed to cross into Allied-occupied Iran, but not until 1943. All the other planes eventually crash-landed, having run out of fuel, which resulted in the deaths of three men initially. Eight men were captured by the Japanese: only four survived and were repatriated. Three were executed, and another died of disease during his imprisonment. All the planes were lost: 15 crash-landed, and the sixteenth was impounded by the Soviets.
Nor was the aftermath fully anticipated. Only around fifty Japanese were killed and about 400 injured on the ground, but the raid was considered a rousing success, particularly for propagandist purposes. Not only did it demonstrate that the Japanese mainland was not invulnerable, but it also advanced their plan to attack Midway Island, which resulted in a crushing defeat for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the similarly famous Battle of Midway. However, the repercussions for the Chinese for assisting the Americans were severe: in reprisal for their aid, the Japanese launched a campaign which killed a quarter of a million civilians and some seventy thousand troops, making the raid most costly for America's Chinese allies.
All eighty Raiders were eventually awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and many were also awarded a Purple Heart. They were also decorated by the Chinese government. Two men, one on Lawson's crew, received a Silver Star for helping wounded crew members evade Japanese troops in China, at great personal risk. Doolittle himself received the Medal of Honor in 1942, from President Roosevelt.
After the war, Lawson opened a machine shop, and also worked as a liaison for Reynolds Metals, which maintained defense contracts. He died at his home in Chico, California, and was interred at the Chico Cemetery Mausoleum. This book plays an important part of his legacy, and that of the men with whom he flew. Each has earned their place in history, having played a decisive role in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific, which ultimately led to victory.
The prose is some of the most engaging I've read in this series. It reads as one would expect the author would sound: matter-of-fact, succinct yet informative and, often times, surprisingly emotive, considering the fact that Lawson was a pilot and engineer, men who aren't generally known for their exemplary writing ability. Lawson's book was initially published in six issues of "Collier's" Magazine, from May 22 to June 26, 1943. It was later published into a 220-page book by Random House. His autobiography was also adapted into a film in 1944, starring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, and won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.
This vital account tells one man's story - from his early upbringing to his marriage, to his service in the Air Corps and beyond, from a very personal perspective. It's not just an account of what occurred during the famous Doolittle raid; it's an eyewitness account of one who was intimately involved in the planning and execution of the famous "thirty second" mission that may well have turned the tide of the war in the Pacific.
Ted W. Lawson (1917-1994) was born in Alameda, California, and joined the US Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in March, 1940, before the US had even entered the war. He initially continued studying aeronautical engineering and had been working nights in the drafting department of the Douglas Aircraft Company. He met Ellen, his wife, as a student at LACC, and they married in Sept., 1941, just a few short months before the Pearl Harbor attack.
In short, the Doolittle raid was the first air campaign to strike the Japanese homeland directly, thus demonstrating to the population of Japan that it was indeed vulnerable to attack. The raid admittedly also served as retaliation for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, which caused far more damage. It was named for Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who also led the attack. In short: sixteen B-25B Mitchell bombers, each with a crew of five, were launched somewhat heroically from the deck of the aircraft carrier the USS Hornet, which was later sunk during a naval battle. The crews were instructed to drop their ordinance and continue on to landing sites in China, but things didn't quite work out as planned.
Owing to bad weather and an unanticipated sighting by a Japanese patrol boat, the bombers had to launch early - ten hours and 170 nautical miles further than anticipated, turning an expected nighttime raid into a daylight one, which the crews had not trained for and which was far more dangerous. Eighty airmen boarded the sixteen bombers, which had been heavily modified for the effort. They had additional fuel tanks installed and removal of protective steel plates to reduce the weight. Two bombers also had cameras mounted to record the bombing raid. Crews had to fly almost suicidally low to avoid detection and anti-aircraft measures, but all reached their targets.
After the raid, fifteen planes reached the Chinese coast after thirteen hours. One flew to and landed in the Soviet Union, where the plane and crew were held for many months, until they were finally allowed to cross into Allied-occupied Iran, but not until 1943. All the other planes eventually crash-landed, having run out of fuel, which resulted in the deaths of three men initially. Eight men were captured by the Japanese: only four survived and were repatriated. Three were executed, and another died of disease during his imprisonment. All the planes were lost: 15 crash-landed, and the sixteenth was impounded by the Soviets.
Nor was the aftermath fully anticipated. Only around fifty Japanese were killed and about 400 injured on the ground, but the raid was considered a rousing success, particularly for propagandist purposes. Not only did it demonstrate that the Japanese mainland was not invulnerable, but it also advanced their plan to attack Midway Island, which resulted in a crushing defeat for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the similarly famous Battle of Midway. However, the repercussions for the Chinese for assisting the Americans were severe: in reprisal for their aid, the Japanese launched a campaign which killed a quarter of a million civilians and some seventy thousand troops, making the raid most costly for America's Chinese allies.
All eighty Raiders were eventually awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and many were also awarded a Purple Heart. They were also decorated by the Chinese government. Two men, one on Lawson's crew, received a Silver Star for helping wounded crew members evade Japanese troops in China, at great personal risk. Doolittle himself received the Medal of Honor in 1942, from President Roosevelt.
After the war, Lawson opened a machine shop, and also worked as a liaison for Reynolds Metals, which maintained defense contracts. He died at his home in Chico, California, and was interred at the Chico Cemetery Mausoleum. This book plays an important part of his legacy, and that of the men with whom he flew. Each has earned their place in history, having played a decisive role in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific, which ultimately led to victory.
June 17, 2019
The Movie Pales Against the Real Thing!
I love the movie, don't get me wrong. But, this fills in all those Hollywood gaps that now appear the size of the Grand Canyon. But, the book explains why so much had to be altered to protect those gallant Chinese who took on tremendous hardship and risked so much to get as many of them as possible to safety before the persistent Japanese pursuit caught up with them.
Pretty sure this is a book I'll read many more times before I meet the end of my line. Will also highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about these magnificent heroes. Extremely inspiring.
I love the movie, don't get me wrong. But, this fills in all those Hollywood gaps that now appear the size of the Grand Canyon. But, the book explains why so much had to be altered to protect those gallant Chinese who took on tremendous hardship and risked so much to get as many of them as possible to safety before the persistent Japanese pursuit caught up with them.
Pretty sure this is a book I'll read many more times before I meet the end of my line. Will also highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about these magnificent heroes. Extremely inspiring.
January 10, 2016
I read this book in the second grade, many years ago, and it lit a candle on my reading of WWII history— and, indeed, my reading of history and historical biographies in general— that has yet to burn itself out.
September 14, 2013
A simply and powerfully told story of the Doolittle raid over Japan in WWII. The account neatly captures without strain the ethos and manner of speech of that time.
December 26, 2021
This was an awesome book! I can't believe what Ted Lawson went through! The end was very touching as well.
January 18, 2026
Ted W. Lawson's 1943 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, edited by Robert Considine, is one of those true-life, ripped-from-the-headlines, now-it-can-be-told stories: the tale of one of the pilots of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle mission against Japan, published only a year after the daring raid, when long years of fighting and suffering and dying still lay ahead around the world. The production of my own copy, which comes down from my grandparents, was made with "every effort...to comply with the government's request to conserve essential materials," we are told on the copyright page.
Lawson starts with a hook that the reader simply cannot shake:
"I helped bomb Tokyo on the Doolittle raid of April 18, 1942. I crashed in the China Sea. I learned the full, deep meaning of the term 'United Nations' from men and women whose language I couldn't speak. I watched a buddy of mine saw off my left leg. And finally I got home to my wife after being flown, shipped and carried around the world." (1943 Random House hardcover, page 3)
No one can deny the audacity of the Doolittle mission, or the glamor of it, really, but when the very fourth sentence of the book gives us this straight talk about amputation--not even using that surgical, slightly more polite term but instead tossing us the rough verb of saw--we know the piece isn't just going to be some boyish rah-rah. Indeed, Lawson "was one of the first of the badly wounded to get back to Washington," and, as he tells us with an artful simplicity made both of self-deprecation and of raw honesty, "At first it was a little tough. People in little villages in China, in New Delhi and in Washington would look at me and feel sorry for me. And I'd have to curse or think hard about something else to keep from blubbering like a damned kid" (page 3).
Before the war, Lawson, who had "always been hungry to learn everything about planes" (page 5), worked for Douglas Aircraft, moving from "ordinary shop work" (page 4) to engineering work on the giant B-19, "design[ing] the landing flaps, for braking the big crate, and the cowl flaps, for regulating the flow of air around the four motors. And, of course, the hydraulic system that operated them. [He] was getting ahead" (page 5). But he wanted more, and even though his mom "raised Cain" about it, in early 1940 Lawson "chuck[ed] a $36-a-week job with a company that was beginning to get big war orders from abroad for a $75-a-month job that might break [his] neck," enlisting in "the Army as a flying cadet" (page 5).
Regarding those salaries, by the way, let us note that the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator gives these in mid-2023 dollars as around $3,100 monthly for the civilian job, something quite decent for a 21- or 22-year old, and a rather more chickenfeed-ish $1,600 for the flying job, which though including food and board and chow, also includes, along with the joy of flying, the possibility of death while flying. Lawson tells us, however, that although "some people have been kind enough to think [he] did it because [he] had chosen the right cause and was getting ready early to fight for it," instead "[i]t was more or less selfish on [his] part, [he] guess[es]. [He] wanted the knowledge about planes that the Army could teach [him]" (pages 5-6). In any event, after he earned his wings, "Uncle Sam began paying [him] $245 a month on account of [his] gold bars" (page 7), equivalent to a comfy $5,300 today. On the week after graduation, however, he also loses six classmates "killed...on the way to assigned posts" (page 6)--this may be a well-paying job, but it is no easy one.
Lawson falls in love with the swift new twin-engined B-25s, which he describes as "a grand ship, fast, hard-hitting and full of fight" (page 7). He and his compatriots "helped shake a few 'bugs' out of the first model" as they "tested their speed, firepower, gas consumption, ability to take rough handling and bomb capacity" (pages 7-8). After the shock of Pearl Harbor, his former questions "during...months of maneuvers" about "what the hell [he] was doing there, risking [his] neck when the thing [he] wanted in the Army was research work" (page 13), disappear. He tells us, "Now I wanted the feel of that B-25 in my hands--not a blueprint. I didn't feel heroic. I just felt ready, and thanked God I was" (page 13).
And indeed, ready he is. For when his unit is presented with the opportunity to "volunteer for a special mission" that will be "dangerous, important and interesting" (page 19), Lawson and all the rest jump at the job, even without having a clue of what it is (page 20). Yet even after the arrival of Jimmy Doolittle, famous "after all those years of stunting, barnstorming and racing" and now a Lt. Colonel (page 22), the boys still can't yet get the straight dope. "If you men have any idea that this isn't the most dangerous thing you've ever been on, don't even start this training period," he warns them (page 22), and stresses the need for secrecy even while still withholding all details:
"'This whole thing must be kept secret. I don't even want you to tell your wives, no matter what you see, or are asked to do, down here. If you've guessed where we're going, don't even talk about your guess. This means every one of you. Don't even talk among yourselves about this thing. Now, does anybody want to drop out?'
Nobody dropped out." (pages 22-23)
So they focus on night flying, "check[ing] and recheck[ing] [their] instruments," practicing navigation, cross-training on other crew members' specialties, and learning short-field takeoffs using "less space and time than [they] believed was possible for a B-25" (pages 24-26). Their "special instructor in quick take-offs" is a Navy man, for "[t]he Navy knew a lot about such things"...and as he also "lecture[s] [them] at great length on Navy etiquette and courtesy" and explains "how to take a shower bath on a ship without wasting water," it becomes "apparent" "[t]hat [they] would be carted somewhere by the Navy" (page 26).
You know the rest, of course, whether from the 1944 black-and-white film with Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson and Robert Mitchum, from some history text, from a cable TV show, or simply from some internet surfing: due to an encounter with enemy ships, the raid had to be launched 400 miles father from Japan than planned (page 51); all targets were hit, with no B-25s lost to antiaircraft fire or fighters; but all except one of the fuel-starved planes had to be either ditched in, or abandoned by parachute over, China rather than reaching their intended recovery bases.
This book really should be read, though, because the immediacy and honesty of this first-hand account--the details of the mission, the dangers and uncertainties faced by the flyers, the awful suffering of the wounded, and the courage and selflessness of those who risked their lives to help the downed men--are both stirring and touching. Ted W. Lawson's 1943 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo remains a powerful 5-star read a lifetime after its first publication, a heartfelt testament to the eternals of bravery, camaraderie, and goodness in humanity.
Lawson starts with a hook that the reader simply cannot shake:
"I helped bomb Tokyo on the Doolittle raid of April 18, 1942. I crashed in the China Sea. I learned the full, deep meaning of the term 'United Nations' from men and women whose language I couldn't speak. I watched a buddy of mine saw off my left leg. And finally I got home to my wife after being flown, shipped and carried around the world." (1943 Random House hardcover, page 3)
No one can deny the audacity of the Doolittle mission, or the glamor of it, really, but when the very fourth sentence of the book gives us this straight talk about amputation--not even using that surgical, slightly more polite term but instead tossing us the rough verb of saw--we know the piece isn't just going to be some boyish rah-rah. Indeed, Lawson "was one of the first of the badly wounded to get back to Washington," and, as he tells us with an artful simplicity made both of self-deprecation and of raw honesty, "At first it was a little tough. People in little villages in China, in New Delhi and in Washington would look at me and feel sorry for me. And I'd have to curse or think hard about something else to keep from blubbering like a damned kid" (page 3).
Before the war, Lawson, who had "always been hungry to learn everything about planes" (page 5), worked for Douglas Aircraft, moving from "ordinary shop work" (page 4) to engineering work on the giant B-19, "design[ing] the landing flaps, for braking the big crate, and the cowl flaps, for regulating the flow of air around the four motors. And, of course, the hydraulic system that operated them. [He] was getting ahead" (page 5). But he wanted more, and even though his mom "raised Cain" about it, in early 1940 Lawson "chuck[ed] a $36-a-week job with a company that was beginning to get big war orders from abroad for a $75-a-month job that might break [his] neck," enlisting in "the Army as a flying cadet" (page 5).
Regarding those salaries, by the way, let us note that the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator gives these in mid-2023 dollars as around $3,100 monthly for the civilian job, something quite decent for a 21- or 22-year old, and a rather more chickenfeed-ish $1,600 for the flying job, which though including food and board and chow, also includes, along with the joy of flying, the possibility of death while flying. Lawson tells us, however, that although "some people have been kind enough to think [he] did it because [he] had chosen the right cause and was getting ready early to fight for it," instead "[i]t was more or less selfish on [his] part, [he] guess[es]. [He] wanted the knowledge about planes that the Army could teach [him]" (pages 5-6). In any event, after he earned his wings, "Uncle Sam began paying [him] $245 a month on account of [his] gold bars" (page 7), equivalent to a comfy $5,300 today. On the week after graduation, however, he also loses six classmates "killed...on the way to assigned posts" (page 6)--this may be a well-paying job, but it is no easy one.
Lawson falls in love with the swift new twin-engined B-25s, which he describes as "a grand ship, fast, hard-hitting and full of fight" (page 7). He and his compatriots "helped shake a few 'bugs' out of the first model" as they "tested their speed, firepower, gas consumption, ability to take rough handling and bomb capacity" (pages 7-8). After the shock of Pearl Harbor, his former questions "during...months of maneuvers" about "what the hell [he] was doing there, risking [his] neck when the thing [he] wanted in the Army was research work" (page 13), disappear. He tells us, "Now I wanted the feel of that B-25 in my hands--not a blueprint. I didn't feel heroic. I just felt ready, and thanked God I was" (page 13).
And indeed, ready he is. For when his unit is presented with the opportunity to "volunteer for a special mission" that will be "dangerous, important and interesting" (page 19), Lawson and all the rest jump at the job, even without having a clue of what it is (page 20). Yet even after the arrival of Jimmy Doolittle, famous "after all those years of stunting, barnstorming and racing" and now a Lt. Colonel (page 22), the boys still can't yet get the straight dope. "If you men have any idea that this isn't the most dangerous thing you've ever been on, don't even start this training period," he warns them (page 22), and stresses the need for secrecy even while still withholding all details:
"'This whole thing must be kept secret. I don't even want you to tell your wives, no matter what you see, or are asked to do, down here. If you've guessed where we're going, don't even talk about your guess. This means every one of you. Don't even talk among yourselves about this thing. Now, does anybody want to drop out?'
Nobody dropped out." (pages 22-23)
So they focus on night flying, "check[ing] and recheck[ing] [their] instruments," practicing navigation, cross-training on other crew members' specialties, and learning short-field takeoffs using "less space and time than [they] believed was possible for a B-25" (pages 24-26). Their "special instructor in quick take-offs" is a Navy man, for "[t]he Navy knew a lot about such things"...and as he also "lecture[s] [them] at great length on Navy etiquette and courtesy" and explains "how to take a shower bath on a ship without wasting water," it becomes "apparent" "[t]hat [they] would be carted somewhere by the Navy" (page 26).
You know the rest, of course, whether from the 1944 black-and-white film with Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson and Robert Mitchum, from some history text, from a cable TV show, or simply from some internet surfing: due to an encounter with enemy ships, the raid had to be launched 400 miles father from Japan than planned (page 51); all targets were hit, with no B-25s lost to antiaircraft fire or fighters; but all except one of the fuel-starved planes had to be either ditched in, or abandoned by parachute over, China rather than reaching their intended recovery bases.
This book really should be read, though, because the immediacy and honesty of this first-hand account--the details of the mission, the dangers and uncertainties faced by the flyers, the awful suffering of the wounded, and the courage and selflessness of those who risked their lives to help the downed men--are both stirring and touching. Ted W. Lawson's 1943 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo remains a powerful 5-star read a lifetime after its first publication, a heartfelt testament to the eternals of bravery, camaraderie, and goodness in humanity.
May 15, 2023
From Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until the battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, which was basically a draw, Japanese forces won every engagement against Allied forces. Singapore fell in February 1942, Bataan and hence the Philippines fell in April 1942, and Indonesia fell in March of 1942. The Japanese leadership was loudly proclaiming that their home islands were impregnable, and the war would be fought on foreign soil.
That claim was rendered incorrect in April, 1942 when Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led a group of 16 B-25B bombers in a raid over Tokyo. While the damage was relatively minor, the psychological impact was massive on both sides of the fighting. It was a major boost to American morale, and it demonstrated to the Japanese at all levels that the Japanese mainland could indeed be attacked from the air.
Captain Lawson was one of the B-25B pilots that flew on the mission, he successfully released his bombs and then crash landed in China. Although severely injured to the point he eventually lost most of his leg, with the help of Chinese loyal to their government, Lawson and his fellow flyers were transported to the interior, where they were eventually flown back to the United States.
This is his story, from how he became a pilot, to the top-secret preparations for the raid, to the flight from the carrier USS Hornet to Japan, the crash and then the arduous journey to safety. Lawson and his buddies received a lot of help from Chinese people at all levels, many of which were tortured and killed by the Japanese for their actions. It is significant that at no time did a Chinese person give away their existence and location to the Japanese.
It is a fascinating story, from the original daring-do as they prepare for the flight, the transport on the carrier and the daring, previously unproven take-off to their crashing and then their journey to safety within China and then back to the United States. There are few stories from the American side of World War II that can match it for the various levels of challenge and endurance.
That claim was rendered incorrect in April, 1942 when Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led a group of 16 B-25B bombers in a raid over Tokyo. While the damage was relatively minor, the psychological impact was massive on both sides of the fighting. It was a major boost to American morale, and it demonstrated to the Japanese at all levels that the Japanese mainland could indeed be attacked from the air.
Captain Lawson was one of the B-25B pilots that flew on the mission, he successfully released his bombs and then crash landed in China. Although severely injured to the point he eventually lost most of his leg, with the help of Chinese loyal to their government, Lawson and his fellow flyers were transported to the interior, where they were eventually flown back to the United States.
This is his story, from how he became a pilot, to the top-secret preparations for the raid, to the flight from the carrier USS Hornet to Japan, the crash and then the arduous journey to safety. Lawson and his buddies received a lot of help from Chinese people at all levels, many of which were tortured and killed by the Japanese for their actions. It is significant that at no time did a Chinese person give away their existence and location to the Japanese.
It is a fascinating story, from the original daring-do as they prepare for the flight, the transport on the carrier and the daring, previously unproven take-off to their crashing and then their journey to safety within China and then back to the United States. There are few stories from the American side of World War II that can match it for the various levels of challenge and endurance.
July 6, 2019
I found this book to be a great addition to my war library. Looking back to WWII and the war literature crafted from firsthand accounts helps me to see what America was. I realize it is only one lense of the times, but the men and women who had to endure on the field, in the sky, on the seas, and at home to support the efforts were crafted of some of the sturdiest, bravest, and idealistic people to ever have walked the eath.
This account is told from the first-person perspective of one of the bomber piolets who completed the first bombing of Japan after the Pearl Harbor incident. The piolet is portrayed as an everyday person who wholeheartedly believed in his country and loved his way of life enough to risk everything to defend it. The aircrew that was assigned to him was no fewer stalwart individuals, and we no mean warfighters. Within the pages of the book, one can expect also to see the nobility of the Chinese people of the time, and the ruthlessness of the Japanese warriors.
I would recommend this book to any reader who wishes to learn more about World War II, people who would like to know more about human nature, people interested in general history, people looking for a quick, engaging read, or those who just like the war in general. There are some gruesome parts, but it is written in a lighter sense. There is some suspense that is created from the real-life situations the flight crew were in, and there is even a very slight hint of spousal and parental sentiment.
This account is told from the first-person perspective of one of the bomber piolets who completed the first bombing of Japan after the Pearl Harbor incident. The piolet is portrayed as an everyday person who wholeheartedly believed in his country and loved his way of life enough to risk everything to defend it. The aircrew that was assigned to him was no fewer stalwart individuals, and we no mean warfighters. Within the pages of the book, one can expect also to see the nobility of the Chinese people of the time, and the ruthlessness of the Japanese warriors.
I would recommend this book to any reader who wishes to learn more about World War II, people who would like to know more about human nature, people interested in general history, people looking for a quick, engaging read, or those who just like the war in general. There are some gruesome parts, but it is written in a lighter sense. There is some suspense that is created from the real-life situations the flight crew were in, and there is even a very slight hint of spousal and parental sentiment.
August 22, 2022
Most of us have either heard about the Doolittle Raid in a history class or have seen Hollywood's version of the raid in movies. This book is a first-hand account of the training, the raid, and the survival of one crew from the 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers that flew over Japan shortly after Pearl Harbor.
The author, who piloted The Ruptured Duck, explains the training and modifications to the bombers that were completed in the months before the raid, under complete secrecy. Throughout the narration of the measures that were taken to make the mission possible (removal of turrets, radios to save weight, and the addition of auxiliary fuel tanks to name a few), the reader can sense each airman's sense of uncertainty and concern grow as they were also kept in the dark as to the nature of their true mission. Lawson's telling of the actual mission is riveting and fast-paced. His recounting of how he and his crew escaped China before the Japanese forces can find them keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat.
Throughout the novel, Lawson gives the reader a personal look at various members of the mission. The reader learns how the members felt about Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, the Navy seamen who assisted with the mission, the individual people they meet on the journey, and each other.
The author, who piloted The Ruptured Duck, explains the training and modifications to the bombers that were completed in the months before the raid, under complete secrecy. Throughout the narration of the measures that were taken to make the mission possible (removal of turrets, radios to save weight, and the addition of auxiliary fuel tanks to name a few), the reader can sense each airman's sense of uncertainty and concern grow as they were also kept in the dark as to the nature of their true mission. Lawson's telling of the actual mission is riveting and fast-paced. His recounting of how he and his crew escaped China before the Japanese forces can find them keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat.
Throughout the novel, Lawson gives the reader a personal look at various members of the mission. The reader learns how the members felt about Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, the Navy seamen who assisted with the mission, the individual people they meet on the journey, and each other.
August 23, 2023
I've recently grown to love first hand accounts of pivotal moments in history. The level of detail and personal stakes these accounts provide are such a great compliment to more zoomed out and comprehensive narratives. This account of the Doolittle raid, the US response to Pearl Harbor, by one of the pilots who participated was well worth the read!
"Then I saw that the man with the flag was waiting, timing the dipping of the ship so that Dolittle's plane would get the benefit of a rising deck for its takeoff...With full flaps, motors at full throttle and his left wing far out over the port side of the Hornet, Doolittle's plane waddled and then lunged slowly into the teeth of the gale that swept down the deck. His left wheel stuck on the white line as if it were a track. His right wing, which had barely cleared the wall of the island as he taxied and was guided up to the starting line, extended nearly to the edge of the starboard side. We watched him like hawks, wondering what the wind would do to him, and whether we could get off in that little run toward the bow. If he couldn't, we couldn't."
"Then I saw that the man with the flag was waiting, timing the dipping of the ship so that Dolittle's plane would get the benefit of a rising deck for its takeoff...With full flaps, motors at full throttle and his left wing far out over the port side of the Hornet, Doolittle's plane waddled and then lunged slowly into the teeth of the gale that swept down the deck. His left wheel stuck on the white line as if it were a track. His right wing, which had barely cleared the wall of the island as he taxied and was guided up to the starting line, extended nearly to the edge of the starboard side. We watched him like hawks, wondering what the wind would do to him, and whether we could get off in that little run toward the bow. If he couldn't, we couldn't."
December 1, 2025
This is a first person account written by a pilot who participated in the Doolittle air raid on Tokyo in 1942. It describes the bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice of the pilots and crew members who volunteered to participate in the daring raid on the Japanese home land during the early days of World War II when Axis forces were still in the ascendancy, and the US was seeking a means of responding to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This is an enthralling tale. The author describes the true warrior ethos displayed by himself, his crew, and others participating in, and supporting the operation. He also discusses the attributes of General Doolittle, and the leadership qualities of the General including the care and compassion that he displayed for the men under his command and their families, which earned their respect, and endeared him to them. Current leadership of the Department of Defense and the military could learn much about what constitutes true leadership, warrior ethos, and heroism by reading this book.
This is an enthralling tale. The author describes the true warrior ethos displayed by himself, his crew, and others participating in, and supporting the operation. He also discusses the attributes of General Doolittle, and the leadership qualities of the General including the care and compassion that he displayed for the men under his command and their families, which earned their respect, and endeared him to them. Current leadership of the Department of Defense and the military could learn much about what constitutes true leadership, warrior ethos, and heroism by reading this book.
March 13, 2023
Just finished reading this, after being a fan of the movie for about 40 years. I don't believe I've ever read a movie-adapted book where the script followed the source material SO closely! There were really only 2 changes. The first was that their rescue and escape covered a lot more territory and stops than could be included in a 2 hour movie, so they could only hit the highlights of it. Secondly, his injuries were a LOT more grotesque. His arm was sliced open and the bicep muscles were left hanging out, and his face was smashed in, his teeth all knocked out and his lower lip almost ripped off. Well, not only were movie audiences not up for something that graphic in 1943, there was no WAY the movie studio would wreck Van Johnson's face that much! But it's an excellent, concise and easy read. My copy was reprinted in 2002 and even has an introduction by his wife (who lived until 2009) referencing 9/11.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
This was a good read in the sense that it is a true story and completely unreal that it really happened. I loved hearing the story from Lieutenant Lawson’s point of view. I’m impressed that he could remember so many details and facts.
The writing itself is mediocre. There are lots of typos and grammatical errors. It was kind of distracting. The story also doesn’t have a great flow. It is like reading a long diary entry.
I liked it but you would have to be a pretty crazy WWII fan to read this. You would just want to read the facts about this event. There are better books out there about WWII and the war with Japan.
The writing itself is mediocre. There are lots of typos and grammatical errors. It was kind of distracting. The story also doesn’t have a great flow. It is like reading a long diary entry.
I liked it but you would have to be a pretty crazy WWII fan to read this. You would just want to read the facts about this event. There are better books out there about WWII and the war with Japan.
February 10, 2023
This book was published the year my mom was born, and written by a pilot from the Doolittle Raid. He was wounded during the landing, and it took him many weeks to get home. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolitt...
The writing is plain and blunt and evocative of the horror and hardness. I learned a lot - how the idea for the raid was first formed, the complicated secrecy and training, the whole mission, how complicated to landing and getting back home. Wow.
I always think I read too many books about WW2 and not enough about Vietnam and later wars, but every time I read a WW2 book I am glad.
The writing is plain and blunt and evocative of the horror and hardness. I learned a lot - how the idea for the raid was first formed, the complicated secrecy and training, the whole mission, how complicated to landing and getting back home. Wow.
I always think I read too many books about WW2 and not enough about Vietnam and later wars, but every time I read a WW2 book I am glad.
May 28, 2017
Doolittle Raiders
This is the story of the WW2 "Doolittle Raid" on Japan, from the point of view of Ted Lawson, one of the bomber pilots. I thought it was an interesting subject. It was written and published during the war, so there's quite a bit of hiding of secrets and disguising identities, especially among the Chinese. The language used may sound a bit old fashioned and "rah-rah" to the modern reader, but what would you expect from a book written over during a war over 70 years ago.
This is the story of the WW2 "Doolittle Raid" on Japan, from the point of view of Ted Lawson, one of the bomber pilots. I thought it was an interesting subject. It was written and published during the war, so there's quite a bit of hiding of secrets and disguising identities, especially among the Chinese. The language used may sound a bit old fashioned and "rah-rah" to the modern reader, but what would you expect from a book written over during a war over 70 years ago.
May 20, 2025
This book changed my war-book collecting permanently. Ted Lawson's account of his very unique and personal service experience is truly un-putdownable. I sat up in bed, saucer-eyed into the night immersed in the intensity of the experience and Lawson's humble account of his own bravery. I doubt I could make it to the mailbox with Lawson's injuries, let alone through hostile enemy territory and treacherous jungle. I've read it again and again and think it is a seminal account in the annals of WW2. I'm lucky enough to own a first edition but any edition is worth reading.
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