Stand-by crews shouted “You lucky devils” …. With fistfuls of money, they ran about wildly offering $150 to change places and make the run to Japan. Co-pilot Thadd Blanton would always remember that, men were willing to pay $150 to die. To the airmen, the raid on Tokyo was their first chance to avenge Pearl Harbor. To the Japanese, it was a humiliation that goaded them to slaughter 250,000 Chinese and brutally torture captured fliers. To Americans at home, it was the first brought ray of victory after more than three months of defeat, disaster and enemy advances in the Southwest Pacific. Recalling the dark and desperate early days of the war, you will share the sense of urgency and excitement that grows as the futuristic plan for the raid is born in mapped out. Like the personnel of Task Force 16 who looked on, you will find your heart in your throat as the huge Army bombers fight their way into the air from the tiny, heaving flight deck of the U.S.S. Hornet. In TARGET TOKYO, James Merrill for the first time adequately tells the complete story, creating a monument to gallant fighting men that will bring vividly to mind again in the memories of millions of grateful Americans. Both as living history and spine-tingling adventure, TARGET TOKYO will hold you spellbound from opening page to the summing up of the final chapter. The blazing action of the hair-raising bombing runs into Japan will seem like a climax. There is, however, hardly a letup in the suspense throughout the long ordeals later faced by the fliers as they struggle for survival against bandits, Japanese weather and their own injuries. Chosen to lead the raiders was Colonel James. H. Doolittle, already a legend at 46 and described by colleagues as the “best pilot in the air.” With the historians eye for accuracy, author Merrill has not overlooked the vital contributions of the Navy men who conceived and planned the daring strike against the Japanese homeland. Perhaps most directly “under the gun” was admiral William Halsey. He was responsible for getting the Task Force within striking range before it was spotted by the enemy. So rigid was the secrecy surrounding the raid that even President Roosevelt was given only the full details only as the Task Force approached its destination. In an effort to keep the Japanese guessing, Roosevelt was to make his famous statement to newsmen after that the planes had flown “from Shangri-La.”