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The First Heroes: The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raid--America's First World War II Vict ory Paperback – Deckle Edge, September 30, 2003

by Craig Nelson (Author)

60 customer reviews

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Immediately after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to restore the honor of the United States with a dramatic act of vengeance: a retaliatory bombing raid on Tokyo. On April 18, 1942, eighty brave young men, led by the famous daredevil Jimmy Doolittle, took off from a navy carrier in the mid-Pacific on what everyone regarded as a suicide mission but instead became a resounding American victory and helped turn the tide of the war. The First Heroes is the story of that mission. Meticulously researched and based on interviews with twenty of the surviving Tokyo Raiders, this is a true account that almost defies belief, a tremendous human drama of great personal courage, and a powerful reminder that ordinary people, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, can rise to the challenge of history.

The First Heroes: The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raid--America's First World War II Vict ory [Deckle Edge]

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Planned in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor at the behest of President Roosevelt, the U.S. bombing raids on Japan in spring 1942 were the first U.S. strikes of the war. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle of the Army Air Force, in consultation with the U.S. Navy, planned for B-25 medium bombers to take off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet, hit targets including Tokyo and land at airfields in unoccupied China. The project was innovative and risky, as no medium bomber had ever taken off from an aircraft carrier, and at the time, Allied forces were being constantly beaten by the Japanese. Nelson (Let's Get Lost), whose father was a WWII Air Force pilot in New Guinea and whose mother served as a wartime air traffic controller in Atlanta, digs deeply into the planning, training and carrying out of the mission, sometimes awkwardly employing military slang, but infusing the account with infectious enthusiasm and numerous engaging first-person accounts. All the planes successfully took off and bombed their targets, but a last-minute hitch left them without enough fuel; most reached Allied lines, but eight crew members were captured by the Japanese and tried as war criminals: three were executed. The fates and subsequent careers of all the veterans quoted in the book are warmly detailed, making this an involving account of a lesser known period of the war.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The Doolittle Raid in April 1942 consisted of 16 B-25 bombers, crewed by 80 volunteers, who made the first air raid on the home islands of Japan. Four months after Pearl Harbor, they struggled off the USS Hornet, flew halfway across the Pacific, bombed Tokyo, and carried on into China. The attack went well and had strategic overtones far out of proportion to the modest damage inflicted: American pride was rejuvenated and Japanese overconfidence pricked. Fifteen of the planes crashed in China, while one crew landed safely in Vladivostok and was interned for a year. Of the participants, 80 percent survived, and most went on to other wartime duties. Nelson ably picks out the threads of the operation, from training to recovery of the flyers. There is interesting pre- and postwar biographical information about the 80 airmen, but the author is much less comfortable discussing grand strategy and the conduct of the war in the Pacific and European theaters. Although at times overly enthusiastic and overwritten, this book will find a place in every substantial World War II collection. Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books (September 30, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142003417
ISBN-13: 978-0142003411
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 60 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1129 in Books > History > Asia > Japan
- #1719 in Books > History > Military > Aviation
- #2020 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > World War II

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Top customer reviews

A story that everyone should know!!!

ByTyleron June 11, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

An excellent look into Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his flying Raiders who launched an astounding mission into the heart of Tokyo, with the first Army bombers ever to take off from an aircraft carrier, and doing so far ahead of schedule when a Japanese picket boat or two threatened to give away the location of the task force. Faced with gas shortages and unaware of whether they'd reach friendly territory or not, these men didn't put much of a dent on Tokyo with their 16 bombers, but made the Japanese realize for the first time that their winning streak would soon be over with this first raid over the Japanese homeland.
Doolittle was given a double-promotion to Brigadier General for this, and the Medal of Honor when Doolittle was worried at one point after his crash-landing about if he'd be court-martialed or not for the outcome.
One crew managed to land in Russian territory, where they were given a cool reception and practically treated as prisoners by a country that was supposedly our ally, but they managed to get their way out of Russia safely in the end.
Other crews were helped by the Chinese after they made it on the ground and spirited away from prying Japanese patrols, who introduced a new wave of slaughter into that part of China for the crime of helping the American fliers.
Others just weren't that lucky and were captured by the Japanese, some of them executed, the rest starved and tortured for the rest of the war, told by their captors that if Japan lost the war, those fliers would be executed anyway.
This is their story.

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A Great Event Told in Easy to read Detail.

ByDr. David Areletteon February 15, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

In less than six months after the Day of Infamy at Pearl Harbour in December 1941, Doolittle lead 16 converted light bombers off the carrier Hornet to attack the main island of Japan. Forced to take off earlier than planned when an enemy fishing / watch boat was sighted, the raiders attacked their targets with such surprise that all 16 escaped - to a long flight at night to China where they had to bail out as their fuel ran dry. This book covers the selling of a really crazy plan, the preparation under great secrecy and the assistance of the Chinese people in rescuing many of the survivors. It is very detailed and offers a first hand account of every element of the mission, and is a very good read. For those who have never heard of this first strike back against Japan, it is well worth buying.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

America's First/ Greatest

ByBurton William Bellon December 24, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

After reading is opus on Pesrl Harbor found thus book equally compelling. Was already familiar w/ general ugliness if nook snd the Doolittle raid on Tokyo but thus gripping account really puts into the cockpit -- almost! -- of the fliers. And yo resd about their treatment in captivity absolutely heartbreaking. These guys were indeed The First Heros. Tremendous yarn and detaiked in extremist.

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The Doolittle Raid

ByCarolyn J. Schoenbornon February 15, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I learned things from this book that I was certainly NEVER taught in school. I was particularly unawares of how unprepared for war we were. It also shows a clearer picture of how war really unfolds and the multiple challenges related to it. Frankly, it has given me a new appreciation for celebrating Veteran's Day!

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Read this several years ago and bought recent copy to ...

ByJoann Wardon November 16, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Read this several years ago and bought recent copy to get signed by LTC(R) Richard Cole. The story of sacrifice and courage in this book reminds me that we owe so much to that "Greatest Generation" that is sadly and rapidly disappearing.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Is There a Bad Book About the Doolittle Raiders?

ByWilbourgon June 12, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The answer is no and this thrilling account also measures up. Superbly done. It covers pre and post history as well as the daring raid itself with flare and suspense.

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Worthwhile for the stories, could use an update.

Bywearethefutureon September 7, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I originally bought this to go with Destination Tokyo: A Pictorial History of Doolittle's Tokyo Raid, April 18, 1942 by Stephen Cohen (which I highly recommend). Both are on the Doolittle Raider store website of book references, not for sale, but as a source to look at. I bought this because it had four references to a family relative, including a piece of information I had not read in newspaper articles. It also has extensive story information about another local Raider I never met, but heard about from family member as someone to speak with. He passed away unfortunately. I am grateful to both books to have good photos and story information about what the Raiders went through. I don't know much about technical military information. I appreciate reviewer comments about how book needed more review, and perhaps someone will take heart to have it reviewed and print a revised edition someday. That would be great! For the stories of the Raiders themselves, I think this is still a useful book. I appreciate the maps especially. I found it fascinating that our family relative and the other local Raider both landed in the same province. What a coincidence. One group were captured and one wasn't even though they landed just a few miles away from the enemy. It is funny how history twists. I am listening to the audio with the book. I do agree there may be an overuse of the term "billy", that I would not have noticed without one of the knowledgeable reviewers commenting on. This book still has a lot of worthwhile stuff in it for reference. A lot of the Raiders went onto other even more adventures. This was just the start of the war. This book provides what happened to them at the time it was published. It does need to be updated as last April of 2015 is when the last two Raiders drank a toast.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Five Stars

ByF.H.A ARMY AIRBORNE NAMon February 25, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great

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Four Stars

Just started it.

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

this book is crap. If you deduct everything he included in this ...

From a historical perspective as well as a writer's perspective, this book is crap. If you deduct everything he included in this book that he lifted out of other people's...Read more

Published on June 29, 2015 by Randy

Disappointing. No new info. Book is expanded by ...

Disappointing. No new info. Book is expanded by inclusion of of pre war politics and poorly documented Battle of Midway.Read more

Published on March 18, 2015 by Amazon Customer

Well written book of the Doolittle raid.

Great book to read for B 25 enthusiasts and history of the Doolittle raid. I admire the forgiveness of the POWs

Published on February 28, 2015 by Larry Inness USMC

Good retelling of the Raid

I read Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo in junior high and several times since. This book was a more comprehensive story, but drew heavily on the books of Lawson and Doolittle.Read more

Published on December 27, 2014 by Clark E. Chapin

Five Stars

A terrific history and salute to Jimmy Doolittle

Published on December 7, 2014 by Robert W Canfield Jr

Good account of Doolittle's raid

I was very excited to recently have acquired a first edition copy of Lawson's "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo", which reminded me that I had read "The First Heroes" not...Read more

Published on November 29, 2014 by PIA

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