In December 1941, as American forces counted the dead at Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt and his military counsellors were planning a counterstrike against Tokyo. The secret bombing mission, led by daredevil Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, was fraught with problems but Doolittle and his men succeeded in striking the heart of the empire in April 1942. The raid buoyed America's morale and prompted an ill-fated Japanese attempt to seize Midway, turning the tide of the war. But it came at an horrific cost. The Japanese killed an estimated 250,000 Chinese in retaliation. Based on extensive research, Target Tokyo is the comprehensive account of this extraordinary mission. With harrowing stories about the fate of Doolittle's men after crash-landing in China and Russia, Target Tokyo is gripping popular history.

About the Author
James M. Scott is the author of Black Snow, Rampage, and Target Tokyo, a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Reviews
"In Target Tokyo, James Scott has given us a superb new account of the Doolittle raid, a daring and unprecedented gambit that altered the history of the Pacific War. Scott's narrative, which draws deeply on new archival sources, will certainly take its place as the definitive history of the Doolittle raid. That alone would be reason enough to recommend it-but Target Tokyo is also a terrific story and a cracking good read." -- Ian Toll, author of Pacific Crucible, War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 "The Doolittle raid on Japan was the American 'tit' for the Japanese 'tat' at Pearl Harbor. The raid changed the complexion of the war-suddenly the Land of the Gods was vulnerable to American airpower. James Scott has uncovered American and Japanese records and photographs never published before. Go on a mission that many thought impossible and enjoy his gripping Target Tokyo." -- James Bradley, Author of Flags of Our Fathers, Flyboys, The Imperial Cruise, and The China Mirage "Target Tokyo is an unforgettable account of American ingenuity and courage in the dark days after Pearl Harbor. With his flair for characterization and vivid storytelling, James Scott reveals the many layers behind the historic Doolittle Raid in 1942-and its consequences. Using an array of fresh sources he allows us, at last, to see the mission both in its contemporary context and from today's perspective. Both sides of the saga are represented, American and Japanese; brave and tragic; noble and despicable. His account of Japanese barbarity-long whitewashed-is particularly affecting. This is a work destined to become a classic." -- Nigel Hamilton, Author of The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942 "A lucid, highly readable story fleshed out with an exceptional variety of people at every level, from mechanics with grease under their fingernails to aircrew inbound to the enemy capital, to national leaders in halls of power in Washington, Tokyo, and China. Target Tokyo is bound to remain the standard reference on the subject." -- Barrett Tillman, Author of Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan 1942-1945 and Forgotten Fifteenth: The Daring Airmen Who Crippled Hitler's War Machine "A beautifully told account of the legendary Doolittle raid, one of the most daring strikes in US military history. Thrilling and brilliantly researched." -- Alex Kershaw, author of The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau "A superb writer and historian with a keen eye for detail, James Scott has created a meticulously researched account that undoubtedly will be considered the last-and best-word on the subject." -- Flint Whitlock, Editor, WWII Quarterly magazine "The Doolittle raid on Tokyo is a fabulous story of bold decision-making and combat heroism. With a perfect blend of extensive research and exemplary prose, James Scott's narrative shines." -- Bruce Gamble, author of The Rabaul Trilogy "When I grew up in the house of a fighter pilot, it was a religious tenet with my father that the Doolittle Raiders were the bravest pilots in the history of flight. James Scott's epic historical work, Target Tokyo, makes that opinion seem almost unassailable. Target Tokyo is one of the most incredible accounts of American military valor I've ever read." -- Pat Conroy "The Doolittle raid on Tokyo was one of the most impossible, daring, and consequential missions ever taken by American military men, and James Scott brings it back to the reader with you-are-there immediacy and drama. Filled with great characters, great heroism, and great suffering, Target Tokyo is at once thorough, realistic, and thrilling." -- Evan Thomas, author of Sea of Thunder and Ike's Bluff "James Scott's Target Tokyo is much more than another narrative account of Jimmy Doolittle's famous air attack on Tokyo in April of 1942. It is a gripping tale of determination, tragedy, endurance, and redemption. Even those who think they know this story, will be absorbed by this vivid account of adventure and peril." -- Craig L. Symonds, author of The Battle of Midway



Book Information
ISBN 9780393089622
Author James M. Scott
Format Hardback
Page Count 672
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 1120g
Dimensions(mm) 244mm * 165mm * 51mm