This book is the story of Elmer C. Jones, a young man who grew up during the Great Depression and who joined the military in 1943, becoming a member of the Army’s Air Corps in 1944. He was the radar observer of a B-29 Superfortress bomber crew flying 28 combat missions over Japan in 1945 — 13 bombing missions and 15 photographic reconnaissance missions, including the longest mission of the war: 4,650 miles in 23:00 hours. He accumulated 489:50 combat flying hours during the war.

This book is the definitive story of the United States aerial offensive against Japan during World War II as seen through the eyes of a U.S. Army Air Corps aviator, Lieutenant Elmer C. Jones, a very young “Tar Heel” from Greensboro, North Carolina.  The author is Colonel Charles A. Jones, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Retired), the only child of Elmer C. Jones. 

The B-29 “DOUBLE TROUBLE”/”City of Maywood” circa 1945 with her 11-man crew before leaving for the Pacific for combat duty during World War II. The six enlisted members stand behind the five kneeling officers. Elmer C. Jones, the crew’s radar observer and subject of this book, is kneeling second from left. Aircraft Commander Tom Bell is in the center of the kneeling officers.