"Steeped in detail that proves useful and interesting to students of the PaciFic War. The descriptions of US Army, Air Force, and Navy preparations (and interservice relations), as well as the Japanese mistakes and oversights about clues to the impending attack, are likely to deepen readers' understanding of the mission and its context. Russell conscientiously offers a concise biography of each of the relevant figures whose actions relate to his topic. Since this book explores what are mostly obscure combat actions leading up to one of the most famous battles in naval history, the result is that this book describes figures whom readers will know from the Midway Battle, displaying their perspectives and experiences in the weeks and months before their more famous actions. Contemporary photographs are complemented by plentiful and usually small-scale maps that illustrate pertinent details about the target locations, helping readers who seek to scrutinize the blow-by-blow descriptions of the combat actions. Early US Navy Carrier Raids is a valuable resource for students of history who are interested in understanding the why and how of US Navy efforts to recover from the shock and destruction of Pearl Harbor, and this book provides useful clues about the realities of naval air combat in the early phase of the Pacific War.