"Six days after Nagasaki August 9^th, a military rebellion exploded in the Imperial Palace. Samuel Eliot Morison the world respected on-the-scene historian said it was a very near thing: “That night a military plot to seize the Emperor and impound his recording of the Imperial Rescript (which was to be broadcast the 15^th) was narrowly averted. Attempts were made to assassinate Prime Minister Suzuki and others. But the Emperor’s message to his people went out in the morning… If these elements had had their way, the war would have been resumed with the Allies feeling that the Japanese were hopelessly treacherous, and with a savagery that is painful to contemplate.”

It was the incredible  timing of a Tokyo blackout by the 315^th Bomb Wing based at Northwest Field, Guam that threw the coup off track—the 315^th went on to destroy Japan’s largest remaining oil refinery. The 315^th Bomb Wing closed down W.W. II once and for all!

--August 15-- Author/Eyewitness Jim B. Smith

When I fist learned of the last mission from Annette Donner, I was just interested in helping Jim Smith get the word out of his long awaited publication of his book, The Last Mission.

It was difficult for me to express to those around me how I was supporting a totally unknown account of the ending of the worst war that man has known; especially around these parts and because many historians didn't know anything about the coup d'état.

I have no reason not to believe Jim Smith and when I heard the account for the first time on my show, of the mission's effectiveness, I had no doubt I was interviewing an eyewitness to The Last Mission that ended World War II.

That was an exciting time for a radio talk show host. I couldn't wait to hear back from Jim about the prospect of a movie.

The excerpts above and view of rare photos taken almost 60 years ago capture the thrill and excitement of the events that led up to the close of World War II. Its taken Jim Smith over 20 years to get his message out and has been successful in getting the History Channel to broadcast the account frequently on national television. It is an unbelievable story and a wonderful privilege to have a part of the publication and public education effort.

If you are one of those people who believe that the Atomic Bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended World War II; get ready to change your mind. Or for the reality check and surprise about a crew of brave and dedicated men on board The Boomerang, a B29 bomber and what part they played, totally unaware of the impending effort to stop the surrender of Japan and their bombing mission's prevention of a coup d'état by the Japanese Imperial Guards.

The eye witness account of radioman Jim Smith provides the human drama of The Last Mission without compromising the accuracy of military strategy that was pivotal in ending WWII.

Time and unforeseen circumstances of the Boomerang crew and attempted coup d'état by the Japanese Imperial Guards at the Palace in Japan have been both an asset and determent to the success of Smith's effort to correct the historical account. It has allowed time for Smith to access classified documents that reveal how The Last Mission flight's actions created a chain of events that ended the war.

However, the unbelievable timing of the events and corresponding activities of the Japanese Imperial Guards intent in kidnapping the Emperor to prevent the surrender and Russia's intent to enter the war at that critical time, has also been a detriment in his efforts to recognize the impact of that last fight of the Boomerang.

The crew of the Boomerang sat on the runway at Northwest Field, Guam for countless hours waiting for the code (S) Dit Dit Dit   (F) Dit Dit Dah Dit (Apple) to scrub the mission. It never came. Although the Atomic Bomb was dropped, surrender by the Japanese didn't come quickly which created the need to send the Boomerang on its mission.

What was the mission? To cripple Japan by bombing the largest oil refinery.

"Its our baby," Smith said when explaining why they flew all the way back to Guam after accomplishing the longest bombing mission in man's history.