Twenty B-25's to gather for Tribute to Doolittle's Raiders

At least 20 B-25 Mitchell bombers to take part in tribute to Doolittle Tokyo Raiders

Posted 3/12/2010 Updated 3/12/2010

by Rob Bardua
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs

3/12/2010 - DAYTON, Ohio -- One of the largest gatherings of B-25 Mitchell bombers since World War II is set to take place as part of a tribute to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders during their 68th reunion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, April 16-18.

At least 20 aircraft from across the nation are scheduled to land on the runway behind the museum on the morning of April 17. The aircraft will then be placed on static display from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., for the public to get an up-close look at each plane and meet the pilots and crews.

On April 18 at 1 p.m., the aircraft will take-off and fly over the museum in a formation flight prior to the Doolittle Raiders Memorial Service in the museum's Memorial Park.

These outdoor reunion events are weather contingent and subject to change. (See the full reunion schedule including event times at http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/doolittle.asp).

Before and after the museum reunion events, the B-25s will stage out of Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio, to practice formation flights, and will offer public rides and static displays.

For more information on the events at Grimes Field in Urbana, visit www.champaignaviationmuseum.org.

On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free.


NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at 937-255-8048.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, contact Rob Bardua at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1386.

 

Thats certainly great to hear. JHeck, I wasnt aware that that many bombers were still in flying condition.

 

I also was unaware there were that many of the B-25 Mitchell left in flying condition. We had a B-26 Marauder or two here in Billings for years, for a while the one in the article linked below was an outside "static" display.

There was another one once upon a time, since I remember seeing it when I came to Billings for my Freshman year of college in the fall of 1967, but here is a link to the last one leaving Billings in Jan. of this year for more complete restoration (click on all the pics and the video).

See:

Billings family members see plane off

 

Clint,

That's a Douglas A-26 Invader in the article - redesignated B-26 post-war, but not the Marauder. I believe Kermit Weeks has the only Martin B-26 Maruader still flying.

The survivor list of B-25s runs about 140 world wide. There are probably 50-75 B-25s still flying in the US, and others on static display. The list of whats flyable varies from time to time.

 

"mcoffee", didn't they list it as a B-26K? If the name/designation was changed post war I was unaware of that, as was the information in the article. Those others that had been up there at the Lynch hanger were converted to "water-bombers" for forest fire work, but those were long gone when this last one left in Jan.

 

I was not aware of the number of B-25's still flying. I am certainly not going to miss out on seeing and hearing them flying over in formation.

My luck, probably will rain that weekend.

 

Yes, its listed as a B-26K, but its a Douglas Invader and not a Martin Maurader. The Douglas Invaders were redesignated from A-26 to B-26 in 1948, which leads to confusion with the Martin Marauder. The Invader was a popular water bomber and was featured in the movie "Always" as referenced in the article.

The Martin B-26 production models ended with the B-26G. The Douglas B-26K was an up-engined conversion of the A-26C, and some that were used in Vietnam were actual reverted back to their earlier A-26 designations.

 

Right you are, dang I feel a "homer" moment coming on! (slaps forehead and mutters "doh"!)

 

who cares what variant they are I think it will be fantastic to get that many at one showing, a true tribute just not to the Doolittle bunch but to all Pacific and MTO Mitchell crews.

go for it, last time I got the real feel of a B-25 was way back nearly 20 years ago.

 

About four B-25's too many, dont'cha think?

 

Thanks Clint and those are even more rare to see.

 

Well they didn't get twenty (17), but they still got a bunch of old beauties for the event. I just ran across it, so I figured I'd share. Wish I could have been there! Here is a short (5+minute) clip on the Doolittle Raider’s reunion in Dayton this spring. Scroll down to the second spot and hit play for the 17 plane clip.
　
Goto:

VictoryGirl

Lovely sounds too!

 

Very nice video - don't disagree about the sound, but its just not the same experience as 'live'. The crackle and pops of the short stacks on the B-25 are felt as much as heard when you get up close and personal with one.

Went nosing around that website and noticed they made a fine choice of squadron insignias to use as an example at the bottom of their page on custom jacket painting .