Wukovits, John F., 1944-

Dogfight over Tokyo : the final air battle of the Pacific and the last four men to die in World War II / John Wukovits. - First edition. - xiv, 322 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map, portraits ; 24 cm

Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-308) and index.

To the war -- The July 1945 battles -- To war's end.

"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."--Jacket flap.

9780306922039

2019304108

GBB9D3276 bnb

019494087 Uk


United States. Navy. Carrier Air Group 88.


World War (1939-1945)


1939-1945


World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American.
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean.
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American.
HISTORY / Military / World War II.
HISTORY / Military / United States.
HISTORY / Military / Aviation.
Military campaigns.
Military operations, Aerial--American.
Military operations, Naval--American.
Fighter plane combat.
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations--Japanese.
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations--United States.


Pacific Ocean.

D790.35 88th / .W85 2019

940.54/42