Customer Reviews

I Could Never Be So Lucky Again

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I COULD NEVER BE SO LUCKY AGAIN, written when Jimmy Doolittle was in his nineties, is a thoroughly refreshing glimpse through a glass lightly at a truly rare bird, a genuine American hero.

Written in the nonrevisionist tenor of PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, Doolittle's life story is told in a straightforward style in which the man fairly leaps off the page at you to grab you in a bear hug. Jimmy Doolittle lived to be nearly one hundred, and his zest for life explains why.

Best known for leading the "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" Raid of 1942, Doolittle did so much more. A true aviation pioneer,barnstormer, inventor, and rugged individualist, he was also the holder of an engineering doctorate, literally dozens of piloting records, and was a happily married man, to boot.

There are no skeletons unearthed, and no deep critiques of the literally thousands of people who passed through Jimmy Doolittle's life, including gold miners and Presidents. This is a memoir in the best sense, not character assassination masquerading as autobiography. Sometimes silence is golden.

On the other hand, Doolittle's self-effacing, humorous brand of Self is reflected in the amusing letters he received from friends such as Roscoe Turner and General "Georgie" Patton. His was an era of true loyalties and good old fashioned gumption.

Jimmy Doolittle was a man who loved life, and it shows.

Jimmy Doolittle is a giant in the aviation world. Although most remember him for the Tokyo bombing raid if 1942 (see the movie Pearl Harbor for his latest incarnation), Doolittle was responsible for many of the safety measures now taken for granted by pilots in the world today in the early daus of test flying in the Army Air Corps. He left the service, did some private consulting, and when World War II loomed ahead of us, he returned to duty, rising to a position of senior leadership in the war in Europe.
Doolittle achieved great success in the air, but this book will also teach the reader about his scientific abilities, and his corporate roles played in life, as well as his influence on some major policy movements in the US Government and the military after his retirement.
For just the story on his involvement in the Tokyo Riad, this would be well worth the read. However, this book is much more than that, and very well told by a modest, gentleman warrior of a different era.

For another account of the Tokyo Raid, I would suggest Ted Lawson's Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.

This book is for the fans of "The Greatest Generation"-type books. Both Patton and Macarthur got cinematic limelight, but we hear less about Admiral Nimitz, and even less about Doolittle. This book completes the Temple of the World War II Titans.

As I read, two things impressed me. First was Doolittle's down-to-earth and conversational style. I felt like he was sitting next to me, chatting on the on the golf course, and just reminiscing between tees. The second was the drastic changes in flight that occurred during his fourscore and ten years. He saw aviation from the Wrights brothers to the Space Shuttle. All in one lifetime!

I was also surprised how involved he was in developing aviation technology--he had a hand in the modern cockpit instrumentation. Things such as the artificial horizon, radar, and the dashboard layout came, in part, from him.

Other surprising things were behind-the-scene info Billy Mitchell, supply problem in WWII, and also the three friendly fire incident he was involved with. It puts a perspective on the current conflagration.

In order to round out the book, you need two supplementals. The first is to see "Patton." Doolittle provided the air cover for Old Blood and Guts, and the book contains many references and quotes from Patton. Yes, he was accurately portrayed in the movie, except for his voice. Doolittle mention he had a high, almost feminine quality to his voice, which explains his potty tongue.

The second is to read "Catch-22." Yes, Heller is writing about serving under Doolittle. As I read, I wondered if Dreedle=Doolittle.

This book is even-tampered in its approach to war. It is not as idealized as John Wayne, but did not swerve into the demoralizing MASH or Platoon.

General Doolittle's book is refreshing to me because (1) it is a real autobiography that sets forth more hare-brained crash scenarios than most men would admit to, and (2) he is an extremely modest man. Unlike most WW II "historical accounts" that spice up the language (if not the action) with colorful detail that cannot be documented, General Doolittle sets forth many excerpts from his log books and other historical documents with no color added. His modesty and self-effacement are charming. He is remembered primarily for his spectacular Tokyo raid and his leadership role in the 8th Air Force, but perhaps his greatest contributions to our victory in the Big One were the invention of instrument flying and his between-the-wars role in the development of high-octane aviation fuel, which gave us an advantage in aerial combat that is not sufficiently appreciated. Doolittle was an effective leader in part because he flew representative dangeroous missions with his men and tended to manage his outfits from the cockpit, despite instructions to the contrary from Eisenhauer. His creativity and innovation derived from his unique technical grasp of aeronautics rank him alongside MacArthur's Gen. Kenny for military effectiveness in the confusion of conflict, but some of greatest contributions are in the civil arena following the war. The book is not written in the style of great literature, but it is factually correct and well documented as one might expect, coming from a distinguished pioneeer with a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering rather than a PhD in Literature from Oxford. He tells us how it was. This is the most book I have gotten for the dollar in a long time.

He was one of a kind.

He got in on the ground floor of aviation & rode the elevator all the way up.

He grew into a doctorate in aeronautics; he grew into military administration. He KEPT growing, for nine decades.

He had spunk, integrity, loyalty, vision. The only thing he ever lied about was his height.

Like Nestor, he wanted to share fame with his wife.

Diplomacy was not his strong point, because he was an individualist. His friends were individualists: Patton. His antogonists weren't: Eisenhower. His was a century of individualists. It was a different age, and he was right about it: He never COULD be so lucky again, not nowadays anyway.

[Paperback edition hard to read, as 8-point print disappears into binding; no offset. If you are over forty, read the hardback, if you can.]

A pleasant, easy read, I Could Never Be So Lucky Again contains the self-aware reflections of a World War II hero and one of the giants of military aviation, General James Doolittle. The book starts with the real climax of his story, the surprise air raid over Japan a year after Pearl Harbor that was a huge morale boost to America. After pulling you in with that story, Gen. Doolittle starts back at the beginning, and just works his way through his life, telling interesting anecdotes and offering personal reflections along the way.

The book's title is apt: this guy crashed more airplanes and had more close calls than I imagined someone could, without a scratch to show for it. His worst injury wasn't even from flying, but came from showing off some stunt moves in South America, when he fell from a second story balcony. He lived a full life--stunt pilot, doctorate from MIT in aeronautical engineering, military aviator, national hero, business leader.

But don't expect an engrossing thriller that yanks you through the book. At times he goes into excruciating details, especially about air raids during his time in the African and European theaters in WWII. And in terms of excitement, the Tokyo bombing raid is definitely the peak of his life, after which he became a general and wasn't even allowed to fly on missions over enemy territory. How exciting can planning strategic bombing and selling aviation fuel be?

Yet he really lets you into his heart, more than you would expect from a crusty old general from his generation. He loved his wife, whom he knew to be a huge support and foundation for his successes--she shows up in almost every chapter (and plays sweetly in the books final lines). His reflections often turn to regrets and mistakes he made, such as a serious faux pas during his first meeting with General Eisenhower. He allows his humanity to show through, and gives you a chance to learn from his mistakes. As a result, I left knowing that this national hero didn't deserve a pedestal after all--which I almost think is the way Doolittle wanted it.

"I Could Never Be So Lucky Again" is the personal memoir of James Harold (Jimmy) Doolittle as told to Carroll Glines. Jimmy Doolittle was simply the foremost aviator of his generation.

No one else even comes close.

He was born in Alameda, CA in 1896, the son of a carpenter. He spent much of his childhood in Nome, AK. His parents split up and he and his mother moved to Los Angeles. As a child he was taught boxing to properly channel his pugnacious disposition. He attended Manual Arts High School and was initially a mediocre student.

In another book, Frank Capra describes Manual Arts as the school that got the students Los Angeles High School didn't want. Interestingly enough both the famous movie director Frank Capra and Jimmy Doolittle were classmates as well as gymnastics team members. This high school was pivotal in Doolittle's life. It was where he met Josephine Daniels. Josephine was at the top of their class. Doolittle modified his behavior becoming a better student and goal oriented in order to be worthy of Josephine.

Jimmy became an Army aviator. He immediately displayed considerable talent along with a wild streak which aggravated his commanding officer. Fortunately Mrs. Doolittle proved to be a moderating influence on her husband. Along with his flying excellence, LT. Doolittle earned one of the first doctorates in Aeronautical Sciences from MIT. He led a team that standardized aircraft control panels. Doolittle was the first to make an all instrument flight, taking off and landing his plane (within feet of the take-off point) while the cockpit windows were covered.

He set numerous aviation records and won every major air race. Despite this, he remained a 1st LT in the Air Force. Peacetime promotions were slow. Even with his air race winnings, he needed more money to support his family. He accepted an executive position with Royal Dutch Shell.

Doolittle returned to active duty as Lieutenant Colonel. In this capacity he planned, executed and led a bombing attack on Tokyo. This was the only time land based bombers were launched from aircraft carriers. Most of the planes did drop their bombs over Tokyo. It was also the first successful attack on the Japanese home islands in recorded history. However none of the planes survived the mission and Doolittle was ordered back to Washington.

Instead of a court martial, he was promoted to Brigadier General and awarded the Medal of Honor.

This may seem like the reviewer has told the whole book but don't worry there's a lot more for the reader to enjoy. The book is well written, never drags and sets a comfortable pace. It is full of interesting stories and facts. Mr. Glines has a proven track record as aviation historian and his expertise shows.

Any money spent on this book would be well spent.

Intelligent, courageous, and honest, Jimmy Doolittle is an excellent example of a true American hero. He proved his worth as a test pilot during the early years of aviation, as commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II, and as chairman of NACA, the predecessor of today's NASA. His view that dishonesty is a form of cowardice and his determination to serve his fellow human beings well into his old age is refreshing in an era of selfishness, half-truths, and outright deceit.

Doolittle's autobiography does a wonderful job of portraying his life. And what a life! If only one could achieve less than half of what Jimmy Doolittle had, he or she would already have a very full and worthwhile life. Let the reader be warned, however, the book is written as only a lifelong engineer could write it; succinct, precise, and relatively technical. Yet among the descriptions of aerodynamics experiments and strategic bombing raids over World War II Germany one also finds heartfelt accounts of his family life. Doolittle reveals that the one thing that has sustained him throughout is the support of his beloved wife, Josephine.

While I would primarily recommend the autobiography of Jimmy Doolittle to aviation and World War II history buffs, I would also recommend it to anyone interested in the life of a real hero of American history whose sacrifices will benefit mankind for years to come. Thanks to remarkable individuals such as Jimmy Doolittle, I'm proud to call myself an American.

I knew nothing of Jimmy Doolittle when I purchased the book except for his part as leader of the famous 'Tokyo Raiders.' What a man! What an American hero! There were times in this book where I had to sit back in amazement at all he experienced and all he accomplished, and his life was fascinating before WWII even started! It got even better as he became an integral part in America's war effort and shared experiences with such people as General Patton, Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, General Eisenhower, Carrie Grant, the king and queen of England! The list goes on . . . It was so refreshing to read unembellished stories of a modest man who did so much.

This book is not for everyone. Doolittle's love for aeronotics, engineering and flying is immediately apparant, and there is much detail that those without similar interests will find difficult to wade through. But if you have an interest in flight, and you want to learn about one of the most influential people who pioneered the art of flying, then this book is for you. If you want to learn about a true American hero who accomplished much more than planning and flying one monumental bombing mission over Japan, then this book is for you.

I was suprised by how good this book was. What makes it good are the many interesting stories detailing a life in aviation in both the civilian and military spheres. What makes it great is that Doolittle's personality comes through on every page, and he's a guy you like spending time with. Not only a war hero and innovator in aviation, this memoir shows Doolittle to have been a thoughtful and philosophical man with a keen intellect, sensitive to the world and people around him. This perspective allows him to not only report on what he's seen and done, but to intelligently comment on it. His depth of character makes this book well worth reading, and it is certainly one of the most memorable autobiographies I have read, inside our outside the war genre.