MWSA Review
In April of 1942, the United States was still reeling from the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Morale and resolve were slowly improving but were still very low. The White House knew something needed to be done to raise the country's spirit, but with the military so woefully unprepared, not many people had ideas as to exactly what. Fortunately, a few farsighted leaders in the military had not only an idea of what to do, but knew the exact steps needed to fully implement the plan.
Raiding the Rising Sun: The Doolittle Raid-America Strikes Back: An Illustrated Day-By-Day Account by Dan Steelman is the meticulously documented account of the Doolittle Raid of April 1942. Chronicling the events related to the raid starting with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and ending with the passing of the final Doolittle survivor in 2022, Steelman, by using detailed Japanese and American sources, takes us back in time to witness the events surrounding the idea of the raid, its planning, execution, and aftermath in an engrossing way. Written in the present tense, Steelman's narrative makes the reader feel as if they were there as it happened. The book is presented in time-line format so that the reader can feel the tension build as it is read. When it comes time to present what happened to the crews after they reached their targets, each plane's crew is presented individually so that the reader is not jumping from crew to crew. This section is especially interesting and poignant, as we read of the methods used by the crews to reach safety, or in the case of the two crews that were captured by the Japanese, the bravery they demonstrated as they faced certain death.
The book is replete with over 200 photographs, printed on high-quality glossy paper, appropriate for a coffee table book. Along with the expected entries such as telling the crews they had to take off in less than 500 feet without saying why, the author includes interesting tidbits such as the fact that the B-25's "tail guns" were actually broomsticks, while the Norden bombsights were replaced with the homemade “Mark Twain” bombsight, fabricated from twenty cent hardware store aluminum, and far more accurate than the Norden. The book makes use of ample quotes from members of the raid, giving the reader a very personal look into the thoughts and feelings of the crew members.
Raiding the Rising Sun is a welcome addition to the Doolittle Raid library as it combines riveting storytelling, high-quality photographs and maps, as well as the long-awaited identification of the mysterious gunner of Crew 10. This book belongs on the bookshelf of any historian of World War II.
Review by Daniel Long
Author's Synopsis
Raiding the Rising Sun is a richly illustrated and meticulously researched account of the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid—the first American air strike against the Japanese home islands and one of the most daring aviation operations of World War II.
Aviation historian Dan Steelman examines the raid through the lens of aircraft, technology, and planning, with particular focus on the B-25 Mitchell and the extraordinary modifications that made the mission possible. Drawing on primary sources, period photography, and clear technical explanation, the book traces how Army Air Forces and Navy personnel overcame unprecedented challenges to launch medium bombers from an aircraft carrier.
Combining authoritative narrative with rare photographs, original artwork, and accessible analysis, Raiding the Rising Sun places the raid in its proper operational and historical context while honoring the skill, ingenuity, and courage of the men who carried it out. The result is a visually compelling, fact-driven history that adds new clarity and depth to one of the most familiar stories of the air war in the Pacific.
Format(s) for review: Paper only
Review genre: Artistic—Pictorial/Coffee Table
Pages/Word count: 292 / ~30,000
