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Operation Vengeance

The Astonishing Aerial Ambush That Changed World War II

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Operation Vengeance

By: Dan Hampton
Narrated by: John Pruden
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About this listen

The New York Times best-selling author of Viper Pilot delivers an electrifying narrative account of the top-secret US mission to kill Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese commander who masterminded Pearl Harbor.

"Operation Vengeance is colorful, intimate, eye-popping history, delivered at a breakneck pace. I loved it." (Lynn Vincent)

In 1943, the United States military began to plan one of the most dramatic secret missions of World War II. Its code name was Operation Vengeance. Naval Intelligence had intercepted the itinerary of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander in chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, whose stealth attack on Pearl Harbor precipitated America’s entry into the war. Harvard-educated, Yamamoto was a close confidant of Emperor Hirohito and a brilliant tactician who epitomized Japanese military might. On April 18, the US discovered, he would travel to Rabaul in the South Pacific to visit Japanese troops, then fly to the Japanese airfield at Balalale, 400 miles to the southeast.

Set into motion, the Americans’ plan was one of the most tactically difficult operations of the war. To avoid detection, US pilots had to embark on a circuitous, 1,000-mile odyssey that would test not only their skills but the physical integrity of their planes. The timing was also crucial: the slightest miscalculation, even by a few minutes - or a delay on the famously punctual Yamamoto’s end - meant the entire plan would collapse, endangering American lives. But if these remarkable pilots succeeded, they could help turn the tide of the war - and greatly boost Allied morale.

Informed by deep archival research and his experience as a decorated combat pilot, Operation Vengeance focuses on the mission’s pilots and recreates the moment-by-moment drama they experienced in the air. Hampton recreates this epic event in thrilling detail and provides groundbreaking evidence about what really happened that day.

©2020 Dan Hampton (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers
Japan Military Aviation War Transportation Air Force Revenge US Air Force

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Amazing story of amazing men

Another great story by the Dan. He never fails to write something wonderful. This story needed to be told just to be witness to what they managed to do. Incredible stuff by incredible men in war time.

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Incredible detail and research obviously went into telling this story.

Once again , Dan Hampton has written this incredibly detailed story with the feeling that you are there in the cockpit. Fantastic read!

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wont be disappointed

loved it. immersive story telling and fascinating history. starts a little slow but once it got going couldnt stop

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Puts you right in the cockpit!

You've probably heard the story for the battle of the Pacific before but I guarantee you, NOT like this. The author does an amazing job of showing you just how close the allies came to losing. If it were not for the bravery, determination and grit of the men on the front line we would all be speaking a different language. This is a fantastic book that should be mandatory reading for anyone that lives in a free western democracy. They really were the greatest generation.

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Fills in the gap about Yamamato’s end

This book covers the war in the Pacific prior to the Yamamoto ambush without going into the fine details. It didn’t need to - there are ample accounts about the Pacific campaign and individual campains that do that well.

The value of this book is its thorough coverage of one aspect missing in other accounts, namely the all-important taking down of Admiral Yamamoto’s plane and escorts. It goes into detail on the decision-making, planning and preparations prior to the ambush; the battle itself; and the aftermath. It contains both big picture and details. The personal accounts from the American and Japanese sides draw the reader in visually. Narration was competent without annoying mispronunciation of place names.

All in all, I thoroughly recommend Operation Vengeance for filling an important gap in our understanding of the Pacific war.

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History

Excellent historical read. Great detail and narrative. Superbly engaging descriptions. It was like being there.

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