70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion Archives - Page 2 of 2

Doolittle Raider Reenactor

Mar 25, 2017 | 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion, AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, Aviation, B-25 Mitchell, Daily Image 2017, Nikon D300

Doolittle Raider Reenactor In 2012, I had the good fortune to attend the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion at Grimes Field in Urbana, OH and the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH. Meet Mark; as a living historian, Mark portrays a WWII Pilot. This photo could have been taken in 1942 in New Guinea just before a mission. Yes, they were that young.

On 18 Apr 1942, 16 brave flight crews took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in B-25 bombers to strike the Japanese mainland in a daring mission early in WWII. Of the 80 men on the mission, only one remains with us to celebrate 75th anniversary of their successful mission. On April 17th – 18th this year, the 75th Doolittle Raiders Reunion will be held. Seventeen B-25s are expected to attend this year.

B-25 at Doolittle Reunion

Mar 20, 2017 | 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion, AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II, Aviation, B-25 Mitchell, Daily Image 2017, Military Aircraft, Nikon D300

B-25 at Doolittle Reunion Champaign Gal was taking off at Grimes Field in Urbana, OH before the 70th Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH in April 2012. Twenty B-25 aircraft attended the reunion with the five remaining crew members from the raid. On April 17th -18th this year, the 75th Anniversary will be held. Seventeen B-25s are expected to attend this year. For a first hand account of B-25 activities at the 70th Doolittle Raider reunion: B-25s at the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion.

Looking back; on 18 Apr 1942, sixteen brave flight crews took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in B-25 bombers to strike the Japanese mainland in a daring mission early in WWII. Of the 80 men on the mission, only one remains with us to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their successful mission. This reunion remembers them and all the brave WWII air crews who fought and sometimes died to keep us a free nation. And, it’s refreshing to see the current generation of pilots, air crews, and ground crews that keep these B-25s flying.

Champaign Gal is based at Grimes Field as part of the Champaign Air Museum. She has the home field advantage, but doesn’t seem to need it. Similar images could have easily been taken at numerous airfields around the world in 1942.

B-25 Nose Art

Mar 4, 2014 | 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion, AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, Aviation, B-25 Mitchell, Military Aircraft, Nikon D300

B-25 Nose Art Nose art was really big with the flight and ground crews of fighters and bombers during WWII. This post just shows all the nose art from the B-25 bombers that attended the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion in April, 2012. Note: There were 20 B-25s that attended the reunion, but you’ll see 21 nose art photos. So, what gives? Well, in WWII, some airplanes had nose art on only one side of the nose, others had the same basic art on both sides of the nose, a few had different art on each side of the nose, and a some had no nose art at all. Of the planes that attended the reunion, all had nose art, but one had different art on each side of its’ nose. For a first hand account of B-25 activities at the 70th Doolittle Raider reunion: B-25s at the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion.

Champaign Gal belongs to the Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Airfield in Urbana, OH where the B-25s were based for the reunion. Many thanks to them for being such great hosts. They worked very hard along with Grimes Museum and the airport staff, management, and volunteers to hold a first class event.

(Select image for a slideshow…)