More Book Reviews
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I was seven years old, sitting in front of my grandmother’s large Philco console radio, as I heard FDR declare war on the Axis on December 8, 1941. In that speech he gave December 7 a name never to be forgotten… “A Day of Infamy”.
During the entire war in the Pacific theater, I followed radio news accounts of the action, as well as the newspaper stories and the weekly newsreel at the neighborhood movie house. I enthusiastically followed the Flying Tigers, Pearl Harbor, Midway, the A-bombs, the Japanese surrender on the battleship Missouri on August 15, 1945.
Following the war there were many, many books about the history of the Pacific theater, most recently “Flyboys” by James Bradley. But now comes “Preemptive Strike” that surpasses all of the others that provide historical content on this subject. Alan Armstrong’s five years of research for his book unearthed many facts that were either unknown or overlooked by the authors of many previous writings. After reading this book, you realize that the term “A Day of Infamy” has two meanings. One refers to what the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor; the other refers to what the U.S., particularly at the highest government echelons, failed to do with the knowledge and plans that it had.
Armstrong has uncovered facts that turn
around a significant part of our history about WWII in the Pacific theater. It
is written without a liberal or conservative agenda. Just great history!
Approach the book that way and you’ll enjoy the read.
- Gene Schayer, President, Transportation
Expo, Producers of Air and Car Shows
A fascinating big-picture study of secret U.S. contingency planning for supporting China in 1940-41. This tour-de-force detective project examines many scattered sources to reconstruct what was a largely undocumented operation. It places the role of my dad and his AVG colleagues in a larger perspective, and explains the many frustrations they encountered in their heroic efforts to assist the people of China. - Shiela Bishop Irwin, Daughter of Lewis Bishop, First AVG Flying Tigers, Vice Squadron Leader, AVG, 3rd Squadron, Hell’s Angels, and co-author of his story – Escape From Hell: an AVG Flying Tiger’s Journey
Alan Armstrong’s “Preemptive Strike” is a well-written, well-documented book that is easy to read and understand. Once you start reading it, there is no way you are going to put it down. Alan has done a remarkable job of telling the true and untold story of the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. A book you must read. - Rick Wolf, Son of Fritz E. Wolf, Flight Leader, First Squadron, American Volunteer Group.
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Anthony Paul, journalist with the Strait Times, published a review of Preemptive Strike. You may view this document HERE.