75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid
B-25 Mitchell Bombers to highlight events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the raid.
Event details
Address: 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 [Map/directions]
Event has passed (Tue, Apr 18 2017)
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
Cost: FREE
75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid
The museum will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid on April 17 & 18
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.
B-25 Mitchell bombers from around the country will once again take to the skies before landing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force as part of a two-day tribute commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid, April 17-18.
Current plans call for 17 B-25 bombers to land on the runway behind the museum on April 17 and be placed on static display from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The aircraft will remain available for public view on April 18 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., before departing for a flyover prior to the start of a memorial service in the museum's Memorial Park at 2:15 p.m.
The memorial service is scheduled to conclude with a flight of two B-1 bombers from the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, which were two of the four Army Air Corps Squadrons from which the B-25 aircrews were selected for the Doolittle Raid. These events are free and open to the public. (Note: All outdoor events are weather dependent. The memorial service will still take place indoors in the event of inclement weather.)
Of the 80 Raiders led by James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle in 1942, only one survives today - Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" E. Cole - who served as Doolittle's co-pilot on Crew No. 1. Cole, now 101 years old, plans to be at the museum to commemorate the anniversary and will privately honor fellow Raider SSgt. David Thatcher, who passed away last year.
Of the 80 Raiders led by James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle in 1942, only one survives today - Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" E. Cole - who served as Doolittle's co-pilot on Crew No. 1. Cole, now 101 years old, plans to be at the museum to commemorate the anniversary and will privately honor fellow Raider SSgt. David Thatcher, who passed away last year.
Event Highlights:
Subject to change
- Author book signings throughout the day April 17 & 18 at the museum store.
- B-25 bombers will be on static display on the runway behind the museum April 17 from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and April 18 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Memorial Service and Wreath Laying April 18 at 2:30 p.m.
- B-25 bomber flyover - April 18 at 2:15 p.m.
- B-1 bomber flyover from the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons - April 18 at approx. 3:15 p.m.
- “Doolittle’s Raiders: The Final Toast” in the museum theatre - please note this event is sold out.
Visit the air force museum website for more details about these events.
Links & Tags
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
