68th Reunion of Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and Capt. Marc A. Mitscher and the Crew
of Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders aboard the USS Hornet CV-8 enroute to Tokyo

A B-25 Mitchell Bomber Similar to the Ones Flown over Tokyo

My blog recently paid homage to Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, organizer of the famous US air raid on the Japanese mainland on April 18, 1942.

80 airmen took off on a secret mission from USS Hornet aircraft carrier to bomb wartime munitions factories in and around Tokyo. This was done to boost the morale of the US armed forces which was humiliated by the early morning surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a mere 5 months earlier.

To honor the the less than 10 crewmembers who are still alive, the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio will host commemorative festivities April 16-18 at Grimes Field

At least 20 North Americal B-25 Mitchell Bombers will fly in formation on April 18th beginning 1 PM. Public flights will be available as well as static displays. Sponsors of this free event include

Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and Allied Sales Company of Austin, Texas are sponsors.

Image source (1)

Image source (2)