The book, The Empire Express: The story of the U.S. Navy PV squadrons' aerial strikes against the Japanese Kuriles during WWII chronicles this little known campaign to mount an on-going bombing offensive against the a group of islands known as the Kuriles.  The Kuriles represented the northernmost landmasses that were occupied by Japanese forces throughout World War II.  The story of the PV squadrons' aerial strikes actually began once the Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska were "recaptured" from the Imperial Japanese Army on May 11, 1943 and August 17, 1943.  As most are aware, these islands were captured by the Imperial Japanese Army as part of a diversionary attack that took place concurrently with the epic Battle of Midway in 1942.  Since few American forces were on these islands, Japanese forces had little trouble capturing and initially holding them.  Almost immediately after the loss of Attu and Kiska, however, the United States began a largely ineffective bombing campaign against the Japanese troops garrisoned on these two islands. Within the ensuing twelve months, the American Army was able to field enough ships and troops to wrest Attu Island from the Japanese troops stationed there.  By the time American soldiers landed on the Island of Kiska, the occupying Japanese forces had already abandoned their outpost and departed for Japan.  As the story unfolds, the United States Navy quickly set about building an air base on Attu, the western most island suitable for operations by land based aircraft.  This air base, known as Casco Field, became the location from which the United States Navy flew bombing sorties with twin engine PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon Bombers against the Japanese Kiriles during World War II.  The major sections of "The Empire Express" are as follows: 1) The Empire Express Story; 2) Map Of Aleutians And Artic Area; 3) Bombing Squadron 135 History; 4) Bombing Squadron 136 History; 5) Bombing Squadron 139 History; 6) Patrol Bombing Squadron 131 History; 7) The Admiral's Crow; 8) Fleet Air Wing Four Insignias; 9) Side View Profile PV-1 And PV-2; 10) Lockheed PV-1 Ventura Scale Drawings and 11) Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon Photos.  In addition to an informative narrative, "The Empire Express" includes the following features: 1) Approximately 88 black and white photographs; 2) 1 three-page Lockheed-Vega PV-1 black and white multi-view scaled drawing; 3) 1 three-view PV-2 black and white illustration and 4) 3 maps.  This book is 56 pages and is in very good condition.  The author is Charles L. Scrivner.  Edition published in 1976.