Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

Archival Summary & Scope

In the wake of Pearl Harbor, with American morale faltering, Captain Ted W. Lawson's World War II classic delivers a gripping eyewitness account of the legendary Doolittle Raid. This daring mission saw volunteer fliers, led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, launch sixteen B-25 bombers from the aircraft carrier *Hornet*—an unprecedented feat—to strike the heart of the Japanese Empire. While the Tokyo raid itself proved flawless, the subsequent escape from China became an even more perilous ordeal for many pilots. Hailed by *The New York Times* as a stirring story of heroism, this edition includes never-before-seen historical photos.