30 Seconds Over Tokyo

GatorFarmer · May 24, 2015

This once famous film now airs perhaps twice a year on Turner Classic movies. It generally gets a Memorial Day weekend showing and sometimes for Veteran's Day.

Based on a book written by one of the pilots, Ted Lawson, it tells the story of training for and flying the Doolittle raid on Japan.

The enlisted crewman, Thatcher, on Lawson s plane is one of only two of the Raiders still alive. He received a Silver Star for helping the wounded after the crash landing.

I remember watching it with my grandfather as a boy. The book itself, along with Guadalcanal Diary, were still offered by Scholastic or some such for young readers in the early 80s.

The Doolittle Raid is perhaps best known to modern audiences via the 2001 film of "Pearl Harbor". That is a shame. The 1944 film of 30 Seconds Over Tokyo is well acted and holds using quite well. At the time it won an Oscar for special effects.

Lawson ended up losing his leg but lived another 50 years, dying at home in 1992.

I watched it again on TCM this weekend, not having seen it for a while. Thus I did a cursory web search and was surprised that two men yet lived.

the ringo kid · May 24, 2015

Ive always been a fan of Spencer Tracy and thought he did excellent as Doolittle.Ted Lawson was played by Van Johnson. I too didnt know they were down to ony two now.

The Disney atrocity was pure BS. None of our guys served in England who serve at Pearl to get experiance --and supposedly being attached to the Eagle Squadron during the Battle of Britain.The guys I mention are the ones who served at Pearl during the attack. And the ending???? WOW,I know hollywood is full of BS--and took liberties but--THAT badly???????

The carrier scenes were shot on the Lady Lex--which sits not far from where im now sitting.

A-37 · May 24, 2015

B-25s over Reese AFB

Col. Travis Hoover, the pilot of the No. 2 plane off the Hornet, was the wing commander of our B-25 pilot training base at Reese AFB, Lubbock TX.

After bombing Tokyo, he made a wheels-up landing in a Chinese rice paddy and the crew exited the aircraft without any injuries. What a guy!

I'm right under the prop hub (Jan '58).

GatorFarmer · May 24, 2015

I did not know that the B25 was still in service into the 1950s. Was it still a bomber or was it used for something else?

A-37 · May 24, 2015

B-25 Phase-0ut

B-25s were used for multi-engine pilot training until early 1960. A few stayed around in support roles.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOlyC6YEtvM[/ame]

Texas Star · May 24, 2015

GatorFarmer said:
I did not know that the B25 was still in service into the 1950s. Was it still a bomber or was it used for something else?

I think some older pilots who liked them used them for transporting important officers, too.

As a kid living near what is now Dyess AFB, I often saw and heard B-25's in the 1950's, and could readily identify the sound of their engines. I got to crawl around inside one, too! It was much smaller in there than I'd expected.

I'd read Lawson's book, but didn't see the movie until later.

I built a B-25B plastic model.

mstem · May 24, 2015

What a beautiful old gal! Hope these warbirds fly forever!

k22fan · May 24, 2015

I have a copy from the book’s first printing. Lawson writes of precisely hitting every assigned target which was most likely to satisfy war time censorship. More interesting he writes they flew past an aircraft carrier anchored off Tokyo but stayed on course to maintain military discipline. If they had diverted and sunk it they could have turned a publicity stunt into a significant military victory. Do any of you know if a carrier was actually there?

Coldshooter · May 24, 2015

Naval History a publication of the Naval Institute had a feature last issue on the Navy's role and getting Admiral King on board. It makes for an interesting read.
It can be found online at the Institute's web site www.usni.org

kfields · May 24, 2015

What an amazing mission! When the surviving raid members visited Wright Pat AFB several years ago, there were about 3 or 4 original mission members who attended. I made sure my son went with me to see these guys. We were in line for about an hour and then suddenly we were in front of these guys. My son and I shook their hands, I mumbled a few words and had them sign a copy of the book "30 seconds over Tokyo". There was also a flyover of about a dozen B-25s. What a great day!
Kim

BB57 · May 24, 2015

Henry (Hank) Potter was Doolittle's navigator and he was from my home town - Ft. Pierre SD. He flew a combat tour in B-26s in North Africa, and then instructed on B-17s, B-24s and B-29s. He stayed in the USAF until 1970 and passed on Memorial Day in 2002.

John C. Waldron, squadron commander of VT-8 at Midway, was the other notable WWII aviator from Ft. Pierre.

Faulkner · May 24, 2015

k22fan said:
I have a copy from the book’s first printing. Lawson writes of precisely hitting every assigned target which was most likely to satisfy war time censorship. More interesting he writes they flew past an aircraft carrier anchored off Tokyo but stayed on course to maintain military discipline. If they had diverted and sunk it they could have turned a publicity stunt into a significant military victory. Do any of you know if a carrier was actually there?

I recall reading about an Japanese aircraft carrier being seen by at least one of the crews, but I've not been able to confirm where I read it yet.

shouldazagged · May 24, 2015

The movie was fairly faithful to the book, though I preferred the latter. Haven't read it in probably fifty years. I probably should remedy that.

Absalom · May 25, 2015

BB57 said:
Henry (Hank) Potter was Doolittle's navigator and he was from my home town - Ft. Pierre SD. He flew a combat tour in B-26s in North Africa, and then instructed on B-17s, B-24s and B-29s. He stayed in the USAF until 1970 and passed on Memorial Day in 2002.......

In the 1980s I had the privilege of being invited to one of the Doolittle Raiders Reunions by an Air Force friend.

Carroll Glines' book on the raid had recently been published, and we bought autographed copies and then approached as many of the attending surviving Raiders as we could for their autographs. It was a fascinating experience.

I have Hank Potter's signature, but Ted Lawson either didn't attend or escaped me. The book is one of the most prized items in my library.

cmort666 · May 25, 2015

While the attack did negligible damage, it was an horrific humiliation for the Japanese military.

It was like calling Marty McFly "chicken", and they reacted in a similar fashion, to their inevitable detriment.

LostintheOzone · May 25, 2015

I have the book. It appears to be an early copy as the story is heavily censored. It is also autographed by 3 of the raiders. I've never seen the movie and probably never will as I don't watch that many movies anymore. I also read the book "Unbroken" which is highly recommended if you want to read how things really were. It was brutal to say the least.

My hats off and a thank you to all that served. God bless all of you.

Mickey D · May 25, 2015

The book was outstanding. Many of the locations and people were censored in the book as it was classified info at the time.

I found this first edition copy in an antique shop several years ago

LostintheOzone · May 25, 2015

^
That's the same edition I have. I guess I better take better care of it. It was a gift and now I think it could be collectible. Thanks for posting that. Nice pistol. Is that a reproduction Colt or the real deal?

e3mrk · May 25, 2015

One of the best War Movies ever.

Iggy · May 25, 2015

My Grandmother gave me a subscription to the "Book of the Month Club"
back about when I was 10 or 11 years old.

The first book to arrive was 30 Seconds Over Tokyo. I've been a history nut ever since.

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