Mission to Tokyo: The American Airmen Who Took the War to the Heart of Japan

by Robert F. Dorr

From Hell Hawks! author Bob Dorr, Mission to Tokyo takes the reader on a World War II strategic bombing mission from an airfield on the western Pacific island of Tinian to Tokyo and back. Told in the veterans' words, Mission to Tokyo is a narrative of every aspect of long range bombing, including pilots and other aircrew, groundcrew, and escort fighters that accompanied the heavy bombers on their perilous mission. Several thousand men on the small Mariana Islands of Guam, Saipan, and Tinian were trying to take the war to the Empire—Imperial Japan—in B-29 Superfortresses flying at 28,000 feet, but the high-altitude bombing wasn't very accurate. The decision was made to take the planes down to around 8,000 feet, even as low as 5,000 feet. Eliminating the long climb up would save fuel, and allow the aircraft to take heavier bomb loads. The lower altitude would also increase accuracy substantially. The trade-off was the increased danger of anti-aircraft fire. This was deemed worth the risk, and the devastation brought to the industry and population of the capital city was catastrophic. Unfortunately for all involved, the bombing did not bring on the quick surrender some had hoped for. That would take six more months of bombing, culminating in the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As with Mission to Berlin (Spring 2011), Mission to Tokyo focuses on a specific mission from spring 1945 and provides a history of the strategic air war against Japan in alternating chapters.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, World War II, Aviation

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Author of "HITLER'S TIME MACHINE."

Author (1955- ); Air Force veteran (1957-60); retired Foreign Service officer (1964-89).

Author of about 75 books on the Air Force and on military history and operations.

Author of the weekly "Back Talk" column in Air Force Times newspaper, the monthly "Washington Watch" column in Aerospace America magazine; the monthly "Front Line" column in Combat Aircraft magazine; the monthly "Washington News" column in Air International magazine; the "The Way It Was" photo feature in Warbirds magazine; the "History Mystery" feature in Air Power History magazine, and other stuff.

I live in Virginia with spouse and Labrador retriever, have grown sons, new iMac. "HITLER'S TIME MACHINE" was published in December 2014

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mission to Tokyo: The American Airmen Who Took the War to the Heart of Japan is a 3 Star recounting of the “thousand kids” who took the war to Japan in the air. I may raise the rating due to all the interesting information Dorr presents but the book is not the smoothest read. The first half of the book alternates an hour-by-hour accounting of the March 9-10, 1945 firebomb raid on Tokyo with the development of the B-29 and the stories of some crews that will fly the mission. After the mission, the book follows the B-29 deployments to India and the Pacific, along with other aircrews. It was a bit disjointed, which was exacerbated by reading an ebook. I find ebooks do not work for non-fiction, especially history which requires constant referring back and forth. I did learn a lot about a very different air conflict.

The airwar in the Pacific is markedly different from the airwar in Europe. The missions last up to 15 hours, covering over 3,000 miles. The bombers are not formations but gaggles of solitary airplanes and they have a long time to worry about the target on the way in and if they will get home afterwards. Ditching in the sea is almost a guaranteed death sentence. The airplane is very unreliable, especially the engines. Crews and units are often very poorly integrated into smoothly functioning organizations.

The organization of the B-29 force heralds the start of the Army Air Force becoming the Air Force in practice. The XX Bomber Command comes under control of Hap Arnold in Wash DC and not any of the theater commanders. It is a Strategic Bomber Force. It was also pretty ineffective at the start because of the weather and winds over Japan. The low level firebombing of Tokyo was the tactic to make the bombing campaign more effective. It worked but was a huge gamble. After Tokyo was burned, the fire campaign moves on to new cities.

MG Curtis LeMay comes out better than other portrayals. History has not treated him well and that is a shame, a brave and effective commander.

There are many interesting links to people you may know, including Yoko Ono, Bill Clinton, Robert McNamara, and others. You will basically follow a number of crews and individuals through the last year of the war. Some will survive and others will not. You will be introduced to the B-32 Dominator briefly. The Soviets did not repatriate their American allies who diverted with emergencies in the B-29. There are some funny and absurd stories about Stalin ordering Tupolev and others to copy/reverse engineer the B-29s that diverted to the USSR:

The Tu- 4 project produced absurdities. Soviet experts debated American penis size as they contemplated the B- 29’s large- diameter relief tube. Among the absurdities, according to legend, was the word “Boeing” embossed on the rudder pedals of the Tupolev bomber. Tupolev is reported to have asked Beria if the U.S. Army Air Forces insignia was to be reproduced on the wings of the Tu- 4.

No one questioned Stalin on an order he issued, unless the person was tired of life.

Finally the book concludes with the 509th Composite Wing arriving on Tinian. Interesting stories about the unit that will drop the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An excellent story of the B-29 and the men who flew it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is focused in detail around the fire-bombing mission to Tokyo on March 9-10, 1945 including all of the preparation leading up to it, the flight to Tokyo, the bombing, the return, and the aftermath. Throughout the story there are flaskbacks and side stories, including some from the Japanese. At first this method seemed confusing because there are a lot of names introduced throughout (the author seems to list names of each of the eleven crew members, their rank, and their function for each B-29 described) and I was thinking to knock off a star for that. But as I got used to the writing style I realized what a fascinating aspect of the main story I would be missing without this extra insight. Many famous and recognizable names are included. I never realized what a trouble-prone, difficult, and sometimes frightening machine the B29 was (we lost 147 to Japanese flak and fighters but 255 to engine fires, mechanical failures, and takeoff crashes). What emerges is a picture of the B-29 as an idea that proceeded through design, prototype, testing, and production to become the largest heavy bomber in the world at that time along with the make up of the men who flew them. I highly recommend this book.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The B-29 Superfortress was designed to carry the strategic air war to the Japanese homeland. It was an incredibly sophisticated and complex airplane with a long history of malfunctions and bugs, especially with its engines. When the results of the American bombing campaign didn't reach the levels they were supposed to, a change in strategy had to be made. That's where this book comes in: the massive firebombing raid on Tokyo in March, 1945.

Following the paths of several B-29 crews and crewmembers, Bob Dorr has crafted a history of not only what was probably the turning point in the bombing campaign against Japan, but of the entire campaign. From the early days in China and India through the surrender of the Japanese aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, Dorr recounts the strategic air war which helped bring Japan to its knees. The Tokyo firebombing is the main part of the story and includes not only personal recollections from participating American airmen, but also from Japanese survivors and eyewitnesses, one of whom is Yoko Ono.

A great read which doesn't disappoint.

[Lee Mandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the genesis and execution of the B-29 incendiary firebombing attacks on Tokyo, beginning in March, 1945. Dorr frames the narrative around the lives of the B-29 crew members who took part in the raids and it makes for very powerful reading. Anyone interested in the air war in the Pacific during WW II will find this book an excellent resource. It certainly shows why these men will always be known as The Greatest Generation.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me say, both my wife and I have read the book. When she initially finished, I asked her take on it; my reading confirmed her views. Note, my wife is generally not a history reader but did so here as her father was pictured in the book and she wanted to know more of his military life and events of WWII.
I, on the other hand, am an avid history reader of the Civil War and WWII, especially the Pacific Theater. The book Fly Boys, referenced to the vast damage to Japan and its cities by the Fire Bombing Raids, I wanted to learn more. Additionally my father-in-law's wartime mission journal noted all the missions he flew and his observations; what better reasons for reading the book.

Overall Summary: Very Good information on both the topic and behind, poorly written and organized in presentation.

The subject of the book was the Incendiary Bombing of Japan as a change in war strategy. The path the author chose to accomplish this presentation was by following named persons and their aircraft through the first bombing mission. As in most history books, the use of flashback is not uncommon, thus beginning the book by going into the event than doing a flashback to the related history and background that were its foundations. This book however, possibly for display/usage of extra materials, increased length of the book, or whatever reason, the author goes into a flashback mode but jumps into topics outside the scope of his subject. The end result is a book that jumps all over and ultimately loses integrity of the subject and makes following the characters/aircraft extremely difficult.

In addition to this major shortcoming, the author cites conditions or events which relate to lost aircraft and events inside the plane prior to lose. The details are such that one questions how he knows the information as the crew and planes were lost. He references no information source such as after action reports, other aircraft witnesses or Japanese post-war interview; it real raises question. Of course this is not universally true but is common enough to be an issue. His lack of footnotes to source details was also lacking. In short, his style was certainly short of a Ryan, Leckie or Hornfischer.

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission To Tokyo
This is the story of a firebombing raid of Tokyo by Boeing B-29 bombers during the night of March 9 and 10, 1945. The story is written with the back and forth technique of the current status of on-going bombing mission and the build up to the end of World War II in the Pacific Theater. The fascinating story also includes the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Of the latter, some common myths are cleared up once and for all, but I will not include any spoilers.
Robert F. Dorr has written two other fine works along these line of military aviation during World War II and this work is just as fine, loaded with factual material and background stories to help the reader get to know the participants in these battles.
The fear, tension, and stress of battle are described so well, the reader feels as though he is there. At times you will not be able to put this book down and at other times, the personal saga and sacrifice make one reflect on the true cost of war.
One edge of your seat story is the night of the mission and Curtis Le May staying up throughout the night, waiting and worrying with one of his aids. The way Mr. Dorr describes the break these two took while the war was being fought hundreds of miles away by America’s young, is a stark reminder of how mortal we are. It wasn't only the Pacific Ocean islands that B-29s flew out of to bomb Japan, but I will leave that for the reader to discover.
The reader will be captivated by the story of the three bombers that all made the same mistake, what it was like to be on the ground during these bombing missions, and the almost unbelievable mistake the Japanese made during the night of this firebombing mission. One question that ran through my mind during this entire story is why most bomber crews elected to ditch rather than bailout.
I highly recommend Mission To Tokyo and Mr. Dorr’s other works for any student of history or for that matter anyone interested in factual, entertaining stories about World War II aviation.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narrative that follows a bombing mission on Japan in the waning days of WWII. Dorr does a great job bringing the young men, who took part in the missions, to life. You feel like you know them early on through the book. I also didn't realize that the March 9-10 Tokyo firebombing is considered by many historians to be more immediately catastrophic than the combined atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima; over 100k Japanese perished on those two March nights. Anyone interested in reading about WWII should definitely read this book.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to see the guys who flew the B-29 finally get their due in this book. It is written in the same style as Mr. Dorr's previous book, Mission to Berlin, in which he follows several men on different aircrews throughout one single mission. The chapters alternate between describing the specific mission to Tokyo and providing the history of the B-29 and the bombing campaign against Japan in general. I found the stories of the individual men and aircrews especially interesting; I think that's the best part of the book.

[Denis Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have appreciated history that tells the story through the participants own own words or through the contemporaneous documents both official and non-official. These stories paint a picture of military operations that are not likely to be seen again due to the changing nature of warfare.

[Wes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What James Bradley did for the battle of Iwo Jima in his book "Flags of our Fathers", Robert Dorr does for the fire bombing of Tokyo in this book, "Mission to Tokyo". Just as Bradley went into details about a sampling of the people involved in the defeat of Iwo Jima, Dorr does a similar job with some of the leaders and airmen who "Took the war to the heart of Japan". If you want to know more about the B-29 Bomber and what it took to end WWII in the Pacific, this is a must read.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the B29 planes and crews that helped end WWII.

[Al Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have given the book a higher rating but it seems like the editor/s of the book did not do a very good job in putting the book together. Great information and story telling but the organization of the book is very poorly done. It seems that the book was written chapter by chapter and then the separate chapters were put into a big bowl and mixed up and then the chapters were mostly put together by pulling the chapters out of the bowl and then put in the order that they were removed from the bowl.
I was drawn to the book because I had a friend whose ex-husband was a B-29 tailgunner based on Siapan during the war and flew 35 missions. (his plane was named "Forbidden Fruit" though there was a B-17 in Europe with the same name.)

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insights into those who fought and died in WWII. Edited a bit unevenly.

[Jack Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

History Lesson

Good historical read. Not as entertaining as I anticipated.
Glad to finish the book.
Not a readers dream. Slow at Times.
JM

[Jeannie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I both enjoyed this intriguing book. We both were amazed at the problems the superfortress B-29 had that caused so many losses. The mission to Tokyo was a colossal gamble that General LeMay took when he learned the American air campaign against Japan was failing because of the problems of the B-29 bomber and the USAAf strategic principle of precision (right on the target bombing. The main problems on the b-29 was the huge, 16 ½' Hamilton Standard propellers which caused "run-a-way" engines, problems with the 4 remote controlled gun "barbettes, problems with the "fire control blisters" where gunners were stationed to aim the barbettes; the blisters sometimes blew out when the craft was pressurized and flying at high altitude. (Gunners were advised to wear a safety line in order to avoid being blown overboard if a blister popped). There were problems with booster controls for the rudder and problems with the radar. To me, this book emphasizes the courage and determination of our brave men who fought their heart out even at a great risk and great loss. The American Airmen who took the war to the heart of Japan were some of the best. I am so glad a book was written about them and their bravery that never wavered. A lot of us owe our lives to them and so many others who fought for us at the expense of losing their own lives. They were gallant men with hearts of gold. I hope you read this wonderful story. I believe you will feel as though you are right there with them.

Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author

[Bryan Verdegaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Door does an excellent job of putting together the intricate story of the air campaign against the Japanese during the Second World. From the Doolittle raid to the atomic bombs being dropped, everything is covered in great detail. Also presented are often overlooked aspects such as the CBI (China Burma India) theatre. The reader is not only given detailed information of the campaign to include the production, issues, and implementation of the B-29 bomber but personal stories of the crews that flew these harrowing missions. This is what the book does best, the flow between the details and history of the campaign to the personal stories and lives of the crews. A good book and I look forward to reading the authors other book on the European air campaign.

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Dorr is a meticulous researcher who takes the reader into the many disparate moments of the preparations leading up to the air attacks on Tokyo. His notes and bibliography are testament to his efforts. There's a reasonable balance between the harsh facts of the events and the occasional reminders of the importance to consider the historical moral debate about them.
My criticism is only with the narrative structure. Mr. Dorr offers extensive details about plans and people but then too often abruptly shifts the story to a different timeframe. It seemed he wanted to write a novel, with suspense and a bit of intrigue, rather than a historical documentary.

[Bacongirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, this is the best, most realistic WWII book I've read. The author so adeptly describes B-29 missions and men that you feel you are in the aircraft beside them. This prep for this book clearly involved extensive research, and the author's horrifying, fascinating, and sometimes touching findings are clearly and brilliantly presented. Included toward the end of the book are more details and stories about the men who fought in Superfortresses and a bit about their lives after the war. I loved this book, and so will any other history buff or WWII aircraft enthusiast. Wonderful read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mission to Tokyo is a well written and researched account of the firebombing against Japan in WWII. The narrative is driven by the actual experiences and strategies of the soldiers and officers. It delves into other missions flown by the B-29 Superfortress including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Anyone interested in military history and/or aviation will benefit from reading this book.

[Karla Eaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too clunky in writing style and syntax - subject, verb, direct object - and too entrenched in mechanical details of planes, this was not my cup of tea; that being said, my father-in-law loved it because he doesn't care about the writing style - he wants the story. So, for me, not a great account of this epic event.

[Mike Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this somewhat disjointed book, and may have learned something in the process. However, there must be better sources on the subject of B-29s in WWII.
Not recommended, but not too bad either. Blah!

[Matt Sokol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although i have not yet finished this book i am thoroughly enjoying reading and learning about the great fire bombing mission. I like the way the book was written and the way it was laid out it helps build up suspense while reading the book.