Tora Tora Tora When did they form ?

[Glen]

Greetings
Every since the first time that I got to see Tora Tora Tora preform at Carswell Airforce Base in Fort Worth Texas in 1980 I have wondered when did this Group get started ? and when was their first show ?

[Nathan]

When they started making the movie?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Once the movie aircraft were returned to CAlifornia, they were slowly sold and auctioned off, some for just a few thousand dollars.
Check out the link below for more details on the CAF's Tora squadron.

http://www.toratoratora.com/we_are/who_we_are.htm

I guess when you have a bunch of guys with the same type aircraft, something's going to eventually click!
Jerry

[Warbirdnerd]

From here:
http://www.toratoratora.com/media/media.htm

Tora, Tora, Tora began in 1972, when six replica Japanese aircraft used in the movie of the same name were donated to the CAF. The Gulf Coast Wing requested assignment of the aircraft and began developing an act for presentation at air shows. The act debuted at the Galveston Air Show on June 25, 1972. By 1977, Tora had gained national exposure. By 1978, Tora began to make international appearances in Canada and Mexico. In 1991 Tora participated extensively in the 50th anniversary year commemorations of Pearl Harbor and in 1992, Tora tackled the challenge of sending two replica Zeros to Alaska to participate in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the raid on Dutch Harbor. Throughout the 90s, Tora has been in demand at air shows throughout the country and as recently as the Spring of 2000, Tora aircraft and pilots participated in the filming of a new movie on the Pearl Harbor attack being filmed for release by Disney. As of the 2005 air show season, the men and women of Tora have been performing as a professional air show act for 33 years