The Last Flight of Bomber 31: Harrowing Tales of American and Japanese Pilots Who Fought World War II's Arctic Air Campaign [Hardcover]

Ralph Wetterhahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2004

Through meticulous research and unprecedented interviews with Japanese and American combatants, award-winning author Ralph Wetterhahn provides a breathtaking account of the nose-to-tail air war between American and Japanese flyers above the Bering Sea. Dubbed riders of the “Empire Express,” American pilots stationed in the Aleutians flew nine-hour missions, 1,500 miles round-trip in subzero temperatures, to bomb Japanese installations in the Kuril Islands. While on his ongoing quest to give a full account of MIAs and POWs, Wetterhahn investigated the crash sites of two Empire Express planes found in the Soviet Far East in 2000 and 2001, and here re-creates their crews’ daunting exploits. With unrivaled mastery of aviation, warfare, and military forensic evidence, Wetterhahn rescues from obscurity the final moments of U.S. Navy pilot Walt S. Whitman, who made a forced landing with his crew on the Kamchatka Peninsula. He also details the missions flown by Japan’s pilots and the fate of Japanese captured by the Soviets and interned in Siberia. This is a moving testament to the impulse to account for all servicemen left behind.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Professional crash investigator^B Wetterhahn relates his investigation of two missing American bombers from World War II that were found on Russian soil. It is a story of forensic archaeology conducted in vile weather under the auspices of a ramshackle Russian bureaucracy and dependent on even more ramshackle Russian helicopters. It frames an excellent history of the WWII Aleutians campaign and the subsequent Empire Express air campaign against Japanese bases in the Kuril Islands. That campaign tied down substantial Japanese resources, but the weather in the region made it one of the most grueling campaigns of the war for both attackers and defenders, and losses were great. Interned American aircrews were kept under austere conditions and eventually had to be smuggled out of the Soviet Union to avoid offending the Japanese. A smooth and accessible narrative. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Gripping.... Redeems the glory of all who fought to free the captured crew of the Mayaguez--and resolves the fate of the men we left behind."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 364 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (July 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786713607
• ISBN-13: 978-0786713608
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,212,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read., August 1, 2007

By 

JOHN FRANCIS - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Flight of Bomber 31: Harrowing Tales of American and Japanese Pilots Who Fought World War II's Arctic Air Campaign (Hardcover)

Mr. Wetterhahn has done a great service in relating the type of warfare conducted in the Aleutians. However, the only criticism I would have is the title of the book....I think its title misleads the reader in that one is lead to believe this is the story of Bomber 31, whereas it seems to be about the Aleutian campaign. However it is, in my opinion, excellent reading, well researched and told from both sides with understanding and compassion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating read..., July 15, 2005

By 

K. Bain Coffman "bain coffman" (new york new york) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Flight of Bomber 31: Harrowing Tales of American and Japanese Pilots Who Fought World War II's Arctic Air Campaign (Hardcover)

Mr. Wetterhahn has done a superb job with his lastest book. Illuminating a theatre of World War II that is seldom touched upon. The daily lives of both american and japanese servicemen is seamlessly woven among an investigation concerning a downed american aircrew and the mystery of what actually happend to them over 60 years ago. Wetterhahn brings his countless years of experience..former combat pilot, aircrash investigator and author to meld a story of unquestionable bravery of the men that served in this theatre. Does this sound like I'm his publisher? Well, I'm not...but I can't emphasize enough...I've always been interested in this aspect of World War II and Mr. Wetterhahn has come forth to make something unique that is accessible to the layman.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Last Flight of Bomber 31, October 29, 2004

By 

Dennis J. Tyra (Lynn Haven, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Flight of Bomber 31: Harrowing Tales of American and Japanese Pilots Who Fought World War II's Arctic Air Campaign (Hardcover)

This book was an interesting account of World War II in the Aleutian/Kurile Island area. Particularly fascinating was the detective work to unravel the identity of U.S. aircraft wreckage found on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Unfortunately the book has numerous errors scattered throughout which detract from the work--several are listed below:

1) Book states battleship Haruna was sunk at Midway--not so.

2) Book states A-26s were active in the Aleutians in 1943--not so. The A-26 did not make it to the Pacific Theater until 1944 with initial debut in New Guinea.

3) The G4M Betty bomber is referred to variously as the Type 97, G3M, and GM-4.

4) Book refers to destroyer Charleston being involved in Attu invasion. The Charleston was not a destroyer--was officially designated PG-51.

5) Unexploded ordnance around PV-1 wreckage is referred to as 50mm cannon rounds. Most likely meant 50 caliber machine gun rounds.

It seems a lot of historical works I read today have a significant number of errors.