Thirty Seconds over Tokyo

Thirty Seconds over Tokyo is a 1944 film based on a 1943 book by Ted W. Lawson. In both the book and film Lawson gives an eye-witness account of the assignment that he and eighty-five volunteer airmen – the "Tokyo Raiders" – carried out in April 1942. Lawson shared his first-hand experience as the pilot of the "Ruptured Duck", the seventh of sixteen B-25s to take off from the USS Hornet.

Related Topics:
1944 - 1943 - Ted W. Lawson - 1942 - Ruptured Duck - B-25s - USS Hornet

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The film stars Van Johnson as Lawson, Phyllis Thaxter as Ellen Lawson and Spencer Tracy as Gen. James Doolittle, the man who planned the operation.

Related Topics:
Van Johnson - Spencer Tracy - Gen. James Doolittle - Operation

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The film is based on the 1942 Dolittle Raid, the first American attack on the Japanese capital following Pearl Harbor. It includes actual footage of B-25 Mitchell medium bombers launching from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet at the start of the mission.

Related Topics:
Dolittle Raid - Japan - Pearl Harbor - B-25 Mitchell - USS Hornet

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The crew of the Ruptured Duck were: 1st Lt. Ted W. Lawson, 2nd Lt. Dean Davenport, 2nd Lt. Charles McClure, 2nd. Lt. Robert Cleaver, and Cpl. David Thatcher.

Related Topics:
Ted W. Lawson - Dean Davenport - Charles McClure - Robert Cleaver - David Thatcher

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Experimental rock band Pere Ubu's 1975 debut single is named after the film.

Related Topics:
Pere Ubu - 1975

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