In the first few months following Pearl Harbor, the Japanese inflicted a series of catastrophic defeats on American armed forces and pushed the United States out of the Western Pacific. The Japanese seemed invincible, so President Roosevelt sought to turn the tide, even if only symbolically, by asking the army and navy to implement a retaliatory bombing raid on Tokyo. So, famed aviator Colonel James Doolittle formed a specially trained squadron to carry out the attack in April, 1942. It looked like a suicide mission. No one knew for sure that the B-25 Medium Bombers would even get off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet, let alone be able to bomb well-defended Tokyo, and then, nearly out of fuel, find a place to land in China or ditch in the sea safely.

Nelson tells the extraordinary story of the men who made the raid against all odds. The book makes for compelling reading.

Here's what some reviewers said:

"A gripping drama of WWII, retold with such freshness that it's nearly impossible to put down."
Kirkus Reviews

"The First Heroes is wonderful, important reading for those who know a lot or nothing about the Doolittle Raid."
Neal Gendler in the Star Tribune

The First Heroes is located on the basement level of the Library at call number D767.25.T6 N45 2002.

David Schoen wrote this Monthly Book Spotlight.

Image Credit: National Archives