The Tokyo Sixteen (Hardback)
The Heroes of Doolittle’s Raid on Japan in April 1942
Imprint: Air World
Pages: 256
Illustrations: 32 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036134389
Published: 30th April 2025
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The Tokyo Sixteen tells the gripping story of the sixteen pilots who took part in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942. The book follows their personal journeys, from their diverse backgrounds and motivations for joining the military to their daring participation in one of WWII’s most audacious missions.
It begins with a deep dive into each pilot’s life before the war, highlighting their unique aspirations and shared sense of duty. The narrative then shifts to the intense and secretive training required to launch B-25 bombers from an aircraft carrier, a technical feat that had never been attempted before.
The heart of the book focuses on the raid itself, capturing the pilots' courage as they flew into enemy territory, bombed Tokyo, and then faced perilous escapes. Personal stories of bravery, survival, and the physical and mental toll of the mission form a powerful narrative throughout.
The aftermath of the raid is no less compelling, with pilots crashing in enemy territory or narrowly escaping capture. The book concludes by reflecting on the lasting legacy of the Doolittle Raiders, celebrating their heroism and the enduring impact of their bravery. The Tokyo Sixteen is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit in extreme circumstances.
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About Geert Rottiers
An amateur historian with a particular focus on aspects of the Second World War, in April 2022 GEERT ROTTIERS experienced a brain haemorrhage. Having been urged by his doctors to remain mentally active to aid his cognitive rehabilitation, Geert decided to dive in a subject that he already had an interest in – the famous Doolittle Raid on Tokyo on 18 April 1942. For more information please see: www.doolittle-raid.net.
The Doolittle Raid The First Air Attack Against Japan, April 1942 (Paperback)
On 1 April 1942, less than four months after the world had been stunned by the attack upon Pearl Harbor, sixteen US aircraft took to the skies to exact retribution. Their objective was not merely to attack Japan, but to bomb its capital. The people of Tokyo, who had been told that their city was ‘invulnerable’ from the air, would be bombed and strafed – and the shock waves from the raid would extend far beyond the explosions of the bombs. The raid had first been suggested in January 1942 as the US was still reeling from Japan’s pre-emptive strike against the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.…
By John GrehanClick here to buy both titles for £34.99