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Dogfight over Tokyo: The Final Air Battle of the Pacific and the Last Four Men to Die in World War II
From an expert in the Pacific theater of World War II comes the tragic story of the pilots who fought the last fight of the war during the first hour of peace
When Billy Hobbs and his fellow Hellcat aviators from Air Group 88 lifted off from the venerable Navy carrier USS Yorktown early on the morning of August 15, 1945, they had no idea they were about to carry out the final air mission of World War II. Two hours later, Yorktown received word from Admiral Nimitz that the war had ended and that all offensive operations should cease. As they were turning back, twenty Japanese planes suddenly dove from the sky above them and began a ferocious attack. Four American pilots never returned—men who had lifted off from the carrier in wartime but were shot down during peacetime.
Drawing on participant letters, diaries, and interviews, newspaper and radio accounts, and previously untapped archival records, historian and prolific author of acclaimed Pacific theater books, including Tin Can Titans and Hell from the Heavens , John Wukovits tells the story of Air Group 88's pilots and crew through their eyes. Dogfight over Tokyo is written in the same riveting, edge-of-your-seat style that has made Wukovits's previous books so successful. This is a stirring, one-of-a-kind tale of naval encounters and the last dogfight of the war—a story that is both inspirational and tragic.
When Billy Hobbs and his fellow Hellcat aviators from Air Group 88 lifted off from the venerable Navy carrier USS Yorktown early on the morning of August 15, 1945, they had no idea they were about to carry out the final air mission of World War II. Two hours later, Yorktown received word from Admiral Nimitz that the war had ended and that all offensive operations should cease. As they were turning back, twenty Japanese planes suddenly dove from the sky above them and began a ferocious attack. Four American pilots never returned—men who had lifted off from the carrier in wartime but were shot down during peacetime.
Drawing on participant letters, diaries, and interviews, newspaper and radio accounts, and previously untapped archival records, historian and prolific author of acclaimed Pacific theater books, including Tin Can Titans and Hell from the Heavens , John Wukovits tells the story of Air Group 88's pilots and crew through their eyes. Dogfight over Tokyo is written in the same riveting, edge-of-your-seat style that has made Wukovits's previous books so successful. This is a stirring, one-of-a-kind tale of naval encounters and the last dogfight of the war—a story that is both inspirational and tragic.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 9, 2019
I knew I had to read this book after seeing the cover. I just felt this compelling need to find out more about the lives of the 4 men who died. Absolutely heartbreaking as the aviators were up in the air when the war was officially declared over and were in the process of flying back to the Navy carrier USS Yorktown, when they were attacked by Japanese fighter planes. Many argue they shouldn't have been sent on a mission to begin with given it was apparent the war was coming to an end.
The book is certainly heavy on the history of everything going on in the Pacific during the last stages of the war. For military history fans, much of this will be familiar material. Personally, I was more interested in the men themselves so when the book got into the specifics of battles and missions, my attention span would start to wane. However the last 50 pages or so , I just couldn't put the book down. To know the four men were just so unbelievably close to coming home safely, but instead lost their lives when technically the war was over, just really breaks your heart.
While the author interviewed family members of the four aviators for the book, he does focus more on Billy Hobbs and Eugene Mandeberg. I don't believe this is due to any other reason other than he just had more information available to him about those two such as letters, diaries, flight logs, etc.. The lives of Howdy Harrison and Joseph Sahloff, are certainly no less important, and even though I didn't get to learn quite as much as I would have liked about those two, the author still did a commendable job in getting their story out. It was hard not to get emotional when reading the impact the deaths of the men had on their loved ones. I'm sure I'm not the only reader to get a bit teary-eyed when reading the memorial poem Hattie Hobbs wrote marking the anniversary of her son's death.
Definitely recommend giving this one a look if you like World War 2 history.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
The book is certainly heavy on the history of everything going on in the Pacific during the last stages of the war. For military history fans, much of this will be familiar material. Personally, I was more interested in the men themselves so when the book got into the specifics of battles and missions, my attention span would start to wane. However the last 50 pages or so , I just couldn't put the book down. To know the four men were just so unbelievably close to coming home safely, but instead lost their lives when technically the war was over, just really breaks your heart.
While the author interviewed family members of the four aviators for the book, he does focus more on Billy Hobbs and Eugene Mandeberg. I don't believe this is due to any other reason other than he just had more information available to him about those two such as letters, diaries, flight logs, etc.. The lives of Howdy Harrison and Joseph Sahloff, are certainly no less important, and even though I didn't get to learn quite as much as I would have liked about those two, the author still did a commendable job in getting their story out. It was hard not to get emotional when reading the impact the deaths of the men had on their loved ones. I'm sure I'm not the only reader to get a bit teary-eyed when reading the memorial poem Hattie Hobbs wrote marking the anniversary of her son's death.
Definitely recommend giving this one a look if you like World War 2 history.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 2, 2019
This is the story of the last four Americans to die in battle in WW2. They were Navy pilots on the USS Yorktown.
The author mainly focused on two of the pilots but told much of the history of the unit they served in.
The reader will learn what it was like to serve in the air arm of the navy during the last year of the war in the Pacific.
The author mainly focused on two of the pilots but told much of the history of the unit they served in.
The reader will learn what it was like to serve in the air arm of the navy during the last year of the war in the Pacific.
January 16, 2020
This story like a few others from WWII is really about four airmen who did not make it home that day, yet we're so close to the final destination. The author uses letters, diaries, flight logs and interviews with members of the families. What is really heartbreaking is that when reading this you get the sense that the men in charge, higher-ups knew the war was ending but still sent them up anyway. Why? Also why was not anything ever spoken about these men yet I have read and seen multiple stories about the USS Indianapolis and what was done to her Captain and she was sunk after the war ended. The sad part of this whole story was the families at home and finding out what happened and still morning the loss of their loved ones. Again as far as history goes you can look back to World War one when Pershing still had American soldiers fighting up to the eleventh hour and of course past I felt once again who men who are in charge will say anything to justify their reasoning, but I still feel that they knew a surrender was going to be signed and yet sent these men to their deaths. A very good book well researched and very well written. If you enjoy history you will truly like reading this book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars follow us atwww.1rad-readerreviews.com
August 17, 2020
A very somber read as the 75th anniversary of VJ Day is remembered. A true tragedy chronicling the combat tour of VF 88 aboard USS Yorktown and the final 4 men to fall in the war. Wukovits is measured in his criticism of this final, ill-fated mission. Instead, he weighs the available info and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. What is for sure is that war is hell and a reminder of what sacrifices so many families have had to bear.
July 3, 2023
Everything I read by wukovits gets five stars from me due to the fact he is a master story teller and the stories he chooses to tell are such amazing and interesting historical situations. This one focuses on the last pilots killed in the war of the pacific and the air group they are part of on the USS Yorktown. Really interesting stuff that you won’t get in any other books. Wukovits finds those little nuggets of history and turns them into something everyone can read and learn. God he’s brilliant.
February 8, 2025
3.5/5. This one’s been on my radar for a while now, and my local library finally got a copy. It’s hard to say anything bad about a book on WWII naval aviation—my all-time favorite subject—but this wasn’t the best I’ve read. Wukovits is obviously an experienced historian, but it’s clear that he doesn’t have an aviation background or specialized expertise — I encountered numerous small errors that took me out of the narrative. Further, primary sources have a place in any book of this genre, but I think that Wukovits leans on them a bit too heavily. His constant use of letters and squadron mission logs—the latter of which are almost by definition drily written—bogs things down.
March 30, 2024
I read the hard cover book and it’s pretty good. It is repetitive in the beginning.
The book is well researched and includes some great history of WWII much of which I was not aware, things about Admiral Halsey, some other air groups in addition to Air Group 88.
It is sad that the four men who are the subject of this book perished after Japan agreed to surrender.
I highly recommend this book.
The book is well researched and includes some great history of WWII much of which I was not aware, things about Admiral Halsey, some other air groups in addition to Air Group 88.
It is sad that the four men who are the subject of this book perished after Japan agreed to surrender.
I highly recommend this book.
June 21, 2020
The story of the final days of the WW2 in the Pacific, four men who needlessly died, and Halsey's ambition. A good read but a tragic story. Also a great reminder that the war did not end cleanly with the dropping of the bombs and that people continued to fight and die.
August 19, 2023
(This is my review, published in the December 2019 edition of Naval History Magazine)
I read Dogfight over Tokyo, John Wukovits’ new book, with anticipation. Four years ago, in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of VJ-day, I wrote a magazine feature about the same event.
I managed then to locate and interview two surviving Fighting Squadron (VF) 88 veterans—Bill Watkinson (now age 97) and Herb Wood (who died in 2017). Neither Bill nor Herb flew that ill-starred early morning 15 August 1945 mission, but each had shared the same conflicted emotions of risking death in the Pacific war’s closing days, hours, and minutes.
Time and space did not permit me to adequately delve into the lives of Howard M. “Howdy” Harrison, Wright C. “Billy” Hobbs Jr., Eugene E. “Mandy” Mandeberg, and Joseph G. “Joe” Sahloff. Now, in reading Dogfight over Tokyo, I was eager to learn more about them.
At the same time, there also were some apprehensions—beginning with the title. I knew from my own research that the documented details of the subject dogfight were scant at best. Indeed, the action occupies scarcely more than four pages of Wukovits’ 300-page narrative. This may disappoint some readers. Moreover, the subtitle’s assertion that these were “The Last Four Men to Die in World War II” is likely misleading. Wukovits explains early on that he uses that description in the narrow sense that Harrison, Hobbs, Mandeberg, and Sahloff were the last men killed while [emphasis mine] conducting a wartime mission.” A more apt hedge would be that they were probably the last U.S. naval aviators killed while conducting a wartime mission.
A bigger apprehension was that Dogfight over Tokyo might turn hagiographic. Each of the four aviators was courageous but each also fell victim to tragic happenstance. A fundamental truth about the fateful mission is that Hobbs and Mandeberg were “nugget” aviators thrust unexpectedly into the vortex of aerial dogfighting.
As Wukovits makes abundantly clear, Air Group 88’s airmen (whether flying Hellcats, Corsairs, Avengers, or Helldivers) almost exclusively confronted murderous Japanese flak from below rather than Japanese fighters from above. Employing this bigger frame of reference occasionally slows Dogfight over Tokyo with repetitious passages but also adds nuance and context.
A final apprehension concerns accountability. A tragedy of this dimension demands a villain. Would it be the deceitful Japanese? The uncaring top brass who needlessly dispatched Harrison-Hobbs-Mandeberg-Sahloff toward doom? Wukovits settles on Third Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral William F. Halsey. Long a Halsey admirer, Wukovits explains how he took “pains to ensure a fair evaluation.” In the end, however, “This book required me to portray him as less heroic, because that is how the aviators of Air Group 88 saw him.”
Wukovits’ explanation may well do service to his narrative arc. At the same time, it skirts historical accuracy—and “Bull” Halsey’s obligation to defend the Third Fleet.
The war’s finale was replete with blows and counterblows. On 8 August, Herb Wood’s combat air patrol (CAP) downed two would-be kamikazes. Three days later, off Okinawa, a single Japanese aircraft torpedoed the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38), killing 20 men and wounding many more. On 13 August, air strikes destroyed an estimated 400 planes parked on fields near Tokyo while CAPs downed 19 more at sea.
In hopes of avoiding further bloodshed and loss, VF-88 Hellcats were ordered to “stand-down” at 0645 on 15 August. But what if they—and other Allied aircraft—had instead continued their strikes? Might they have prevented—or sidestepped—the aerial ambush that claimed Harrison, Hobbs, Mandeberg, and Sahloff?
That is pure speculation—and likewise skirts historical accuracy. But consider this: It was not until 1600 on 16 August 1945, roughly 35 hours after the U.S. Navy stopped all offensive operations, that Hirohito’s cease-fire order finally went out to Japanese forces.
Wukovits determined early on that locating sufficient information on two of the four aviators would be crucial to the viability of his narrative—a high bar to vault, given the 75 intervening years.
In the end, thanks to meticulous research and the indispensable cooperation of the Hobbs and Mandeberg families, Wukovits succeeds. His book is rich with family lore and reminiscences supplemented by a trove of contemporaneous letters, diaries, and hometown newspaper accounts. It is this tapestry blending the personal and the historical that makes Dogfight over Tokyo compelling.
I read Dogfight over Tokyo, John Wukovits’ new book, with anticipation. Four years ago, in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of VJ-day, I wrote a magazine feature about the same event.
I managed then to locate and interview two surviving Fighting Squadron (VF) 88 veterans—Bill Watkinson (now age 97) and Herb Wood (who died in 2017). Neither Bill nor Herb flew that ill-starred early morning 15 August 1945 mission, but each had shared the same conflicted emotions of risking death in the Pacific war’s closing days, hours, and minutes.
Time and space did not permit me to adequately delve into the lives of Howard M. “Howdy” Harrison, Wright C. “Billy” Hobbs Jr., Eugene E. “Mandy” Mandeberg, and Joseph G. “Joe” Sahloff. Now, in reading Dogfight over Tokyo, I was eager to learn more about them.
At the same time, there also were some apprehensions—beginning with the title. I knew from my own research that the documented details of the subject dogfight were scant at best. Indeed, the action occupies scarcely more than four pages of Wukovits’ 300-page narrative. This may disappoint some readers. Moreover, the subtitle’s assertion that these were “The Last Four Men to Die in World War II” is likely misleading. Wukovits explains early on that he uses that description in the narrow sense that Harrison, Hobbs, Mandeberg, and Sahloff were the last men killed while [emphasis mine] conducting a wartime mission.” A more apt hedge would be that they were probably the last U.S. naval aviators killed while conducting a wartime mission.
A bigger apprehension was that Dogfight over Tokyo might turn hagiographic. Each of the four aviators was courageous but each also fell victim to tragic happenstance. A fundamental truth about the fateful mission is that Hobbs and Mandeberg were “nugget” aviators thrust unexpectedly into the vortex of aerial dogfighting.
As Wukovits makes abundantly clear, Air Group 88’s airmen (whether flying Hellcats, Corsairs, Avengers, or Helldivers) almost exclusively confronted murderous Japanese flak from below rather than Japanese fighters from above. Employing this bigger frame of reference occasionally slows Dogfight over Tokyo with repetitious passages but also adds nuance and context.
A final apprehension concerns accountability. A tragedy of this dimension demands a villain. Would it be the deceitful Japanese? The uncaring top brass who needlessly dispatched Harrison-Hobbs-Mandeberg-Sahloff toward doom? Wukovits settles on Third Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral William F. Halsey. Long a Halsey admirer, Wukovits explains how he took “pains to ensure a fair evaluation.” In the end, however, “This book required me to portray him as less heroic, because that is how the aviators of Air Group 88 saw him.”
Wukovits’ explanation may well do service to his narrative arc. At the same time, it skirts historical accuracy—and “Bull” Halsey’s obligation to defend the Third Fleet.
The war’s finale was replete with blows and counterblows. On 8 August, Herb Wood’s combat air patrol (CAP) downed two would-be kamikazes. Three days later, off Okinawa, a single Japanese aircraft torpedoed the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38), killing 20 men and wounding many more. On 13 August, air strikes destroyed an estimated 400 planes parked on fields near Tokyo while CAPs downed 19 more at sea.
In hopes of avoiding further bloodshed and loss, VF-88 Hellcats were ordered to “stand-down” at 0645 on 15 August. But what if they—and other Allied aircraft—had instead continued their strikes? Might they have prevented—or sidestepped—the aerial ambush that claimed Harrison, Hobbs, Mandeberg, and Sahloff?
That is pure speculation—and likewise skirts historical accuracy. But consider this: It was not until 1600 on 16 August 1945, roughly 35 hours after the U.S. Navy stopped all offensive operations, that Hirohito’s cease-fire order finally went out to Japanese forces.
Wukovits determined early on that locating sufficient information on two of the four aviators would be crucial to the viability of his narrative—a high bar to vault, given the 75 intervening years.
In the end, thanks to meticulous research and the indispensable cooperation of the Hobbs and Mandeberg families, Wukovits succeeds. His book is rich with family lore and reminiscences supplemented by a trove of contemporaneous letters, diaries, and hometown newspaper accounts. It is this tapestry blending the personal and the historical that makes Dogfight over Tokyo compelling.
November 12, 2023
’She embraced her oldest son, then with her right hand slipped off the wedding ring she always wore on her left finger and handed it to Billy. Surprised with the gesture, and reluctant to accept it, Billy added the ring to the dog tags that dangled from his neck. She wanted to give him something to keep him safe.’
While there seems to be a lot of disagreement on who exactly was the last U.S. serviceman to be killed in World War II – Google it and you’ll get a return that offers several different choices – historian John Wukovits details the deaths of four Naval airman who are certainly candidates for that unfortunate distinction. Pilots Harrison, Sahlof, Hobbs and Mandelberg were all shot down by Japanese zeros while returning from an aborted bombing run in the hours just after peace had been officially declared. Outside of fueling the ego and perpetuating a bitter vendetta Admiral William F. Halsey held against the Japanese – along with many other Americans it must be said -- the attack and loss of life are hard to justify.
With Dogfight Over Tokyo, Wukovits provides a battle history for these young pilots and their colleagues in Navy Air Group 88 from recruitment through training to posting on the USS Yorktown, and eventual combat in the skies over the home islands of Japan. While the format is similar to other books in this genre, Wukovits offers one of the better, layman’s picture of aircraft carrier purpose and operations, vividly describing launch, recovery, and management procedures – in a way that is thankfully neither boring nor too technical. He also shines in his combat essays, the bombing runs over various Japanese targets are well done and particularly special is the chapter of the rescues of downed servicemen by Dumbo PBY-Catalina rescue planes.
The real difference, however, between this book and others is the attention to detail Wukovits pays to the home front and the anguish mothers, fathers, siblings and fiancés faced wondering if their sons were still alive and well in Pacific. We continue to take for granted the super-speed of information that now flows instantaneously around the globe and simultaneously to millions with a button push. Families in World War II waited weeks or months from servicemen abroad and we are agonized by the start reality that the loved ones could be gravely injured, captured or dead for months before they knew, vainly sending letters, cards and care packages that would never be opened.
A serviceable narrative for the armchair history buff, Dogfight Over Tokyo is a good read, well-researched and well written. It might not have much appeal to the more casual reader, but if military history is your thing, then I’d check this one out.
P.S. And whether or not these four airman were actually the war’s last casualties (or was it airmen Philip Schlamberg as CNN seems to think … see https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/11/asia/a...) really makes little difference. Their loss and Schlamberg’s (who disappeared that day as opposed to being verifiably shot down), both coming after the Japanese surrender, remains tragic.
September 7, 2022
Noted Pacific War historian John Wukovits draws on recently available and released archives, letters and interviews to relate in dramatic prose the story of the USS Yorktown’s Air Group 88’s story. Upon establishing the context and foundation for the Yorktown’s battle rhythm leading into the final two years of the war, readers feel the momentum shift toward the Allies in 1945. Admiral ‘Bull’ Halsey Jr. was responsible for the naval strategy and its outcomes and Wukovits paints him as a very stern and tough taskmaster. This sketch of him would come into full relief upon the last day of the Pacific war, August 15th, 1945, when, before the cessation order had been released, the last group of aviators were ordered out on their last mission by Halsey. During that mission the end of hostilities was officially declared and communicated to the crews who were at the time over Tokyo. While returning to the ship, the six 6F6 Hellcats consisting of Billy Hobbs, Eugene Mandeberg, Howard Harrison, Joseph Sahloff, and two others were jumped by 20 Japanese fighters who either ignored the message or never received the cessation order. These four men would die in the melee and become the last air war casualties in the theater, and tarnishing Halsey’s judgment. A fantastic historical read!
November 3, 2023
I was very excited when I ran across this book. I have been interested in the last weeks of the Pacific War during World War II. And was hoping to get some information from this book. And I was able to do that. I could learn about some of the carrier operations along the coast of Japan.
I also got information on what the pilots had to go through to become naval aviators. It was much more than I ever knew about. And I learned some of what it was like for the families back home waiting for news or letters from sons or husbands. All very valuable information to have.
My big problem with this book is that I struggled so much to get involved in it. Maybe it was bad timing for me but I just couldn’t keep myself reading for any extended time. And maybe it was the coverage of the men who would not return at the end of the war was too sad and overwhelming. But I was constantly taking breaks in between sections within the chapters. I just had trouble sticking with it.
I also got information on what the pilots had to go through to become naval aviators. It was much more than I ever knew about. And I learned some of what it was like for the families back home waiting for news or letters from sons or husbands. All very valuable information to have.
My big problem with this book is that I struggled so much to get involved in it. Maybe it was bad timing for me but I just couldn’t keep myself reading for any extended time. And maybe it was the coverage of the men who would not return at the end of the war was too sad and overwhelming. But I was constantly taking breaks in between sections within the chapters. I just had trouble sticking with it.
May 17, 2020
Heartbreaking story about the last four American casualties during World War II. They were Navy pilots who were sent on a raid before the cease fire was announced. They received word during their flight, but were attacked by Japanese aircraft and four of them were shot down. The book traces their careers from enlistment to their final battle. One of the pilots was from Indiana, so I was able to connect with that story a bit more. It would have been an interesting counterpoint to discuss the Japanese pilots who were shot down during the engagement as well. The author does an excellent job of describing the struggle to follow orders and do one's duty while on the other hand not wanting to be a casualty so close to the end of the war.
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February 17, 2025Knowing that the four men we learn about all die in the end, it's somewhat of a downer. The author gave perhaps too much details about their lives, but others may like that. The biggest thing that I got out of the book is that Halsey was an arrogant, and bad, commanders. The four men didn't need to go on a mission that day, but Halsey really wanted to kill more Japanese. That's the only thing that would have justified the mission. Also, sailing the fleet into not one but two hurricanes was stupid. Again, arrogance. "We're doing this no matter who dies." I got the impression from the book that they wanted to do something negative to Halsey but feared a public outcry. They should have done it anway. Any respect I had for Halsey as a military commander is gone now.
March 16, 2021
Well researched and informative. Mr. Wukovits not only writes of the event but closely follows two of the last forur men to die and their families. He also gives insights to why they flew that last mission as well as detailed picture of those last few days of the war with the USA fleet off the coast of Japan.
Having served on similar ships and with similar aircraft years later (Not in WWII as I was only 2 years old when it began for the USA) I was able to clearly picture these events.
Having served on similar ships and with similar aircraft years later (Not in WWII as I was only 2 years old when it began for the USA) I was able to clearly picture these events.
August 6, 2024
I feel some regret on rating this only a three. It is well written and researched. Of course, the outcome is tragic and entirely unavailable. The last mission should have been scrubbed.
I appreciate the fact that the author wrote this book so that these brave fliers will not be forgotten.
I have read extensively about WWII, especially works like this that use lots of first-hand accounts. So, the rating of three for this book is a result of comparisons with so many others.
I appreciate the fact that the author wrote this book so that these brave fliers will not be forgotten.
I have read extensively about WWII, especially works like this that use lots of first-hand accounts. So, the rating of three for this book is a result of comparisons with so many others.
September 9, 2022
This nonfiction book does a great job of telling a story about real people. The four aviators, their families, a fiance, fellow aviators, the immediate commanders.... all fleshed out from primary documents carefully annotated.
I wish this book was required reading in college American History.
I wish this book was required reading in college American History.
March 3, 2020
Heartbreaking story of four very unnecessary deaths, but deaths not in vain. Two of the four are focused on here, thanks to their families sharing with the author. Recommend.
December 18, 2020
Book contained information not widely known. Was less than impartial in it’s assigning Admiral Halsey responsibility for the flyer’s deaths.
March 6, 2022
It was an interesting read.
July 19, 2023
A very informative look into the final days of WWII.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews