Doolittle Raid Reunion and Largest B-25 Gathering

[tom d. friedman]

there are more than enough bombers to hit the cleveland browns football team bomb factory / stadium from dayton, it will only take 2 hours round trip. it will be deemed a mercy killing. the mission is expected to have a light defense, offense thoroughly snafu. so a milk run is definetely in the making, with a 1 win 10 loss record as of today. bombs will be on target for sure if you are from the cleveland ohio area, better than any norden bombsight!! briefing dismissed!! man your planes!!

no comments from pittspuke steelers fan mustangdriver chris!!

chris, a personal ps...... say it 3 times...... p-80 windscreen pic..... p-80 windscreen pic, p-80 windscreen pic!

[mustangdriver]

Sorry I was going to post some pics, but I got distracted looking at our 6 Super Bowl Trophies. ha ha. Actually I am getting the new man cave together on Weds and plan to take and post some pics of the Windscreen for you.

[Nathan]

hi all,

I sent a letter also to this Shell organization:

I wrote:

Hello,



I am writing in regard to the United States Air Force museums planned B-25 reunion that will be held next April in Dayton Ohio. I know that the legendary James Doolittle worked for your Shell company in the 1930's. As you may know Doolittle led a raid on April 16, 1942 when he and his squadron took off from the carrier USS Hornet with 16 B-25's to make the first bombing mission on Japan. This event is to honor the history of the Doolittle raid and will probably be the last gathering of Doolittle raiders as 5 of the 9 surviving Doolittle raiders are to be at this event. I hope that your company can look into possibly helping this event out in terms of sponsorship. Any and all help would be appreciated.



Thanks for your time,



Nathan Milarta



1941 Historical Aircraft group, Geneseo NY museum volunteer


Hope it helps,
Nathan

Sounds like a very ambitious goal for April. I will wait to see how this pans out before even seriously thinking about making the trip out there. If close to the event it looks like a STRONG possibility that 18+ B-25s may be flying in there, I may go. I was at Thunder Over Michigan a few years ago and saw the 15 B-25's in the air, so I would not be willing to travel to WPAFB unless there were going to be a significantly greater number in the air. Also since it doesn't sound like they would stage anything other than the arrival and departure, they would have to stage a fairly compact arrival and/or departure event to be able to view all of the airplanes in the air during a relatively short time (say all arriving and/or departing during a relatively short time frame on the same day) in order to see all of them in the air.

I know for some a static display park of B-25s would be worth the trip - but not me. I will remain hopeful but skeptical.

[Coert Munk]

Hi

Why bother on going is there's a "substantial lager number flying Mitchells"? Be there!
We'll be there with several members of our "Sarinah" team (44-29507), the bomber herself stays in Netherlands.
See ya all in April!

C

[Coert Munk]

Hi

Why bother on going if there's a "substantial lager number flying Mitchells"? Be there!
We'll be there with several members of our "Sarinah" team (44-29507), the bomber herself stays in Netherlands.
See ya all in April!

C

[gary1954]

hi all,

I sent a letter also to this Shell organization:

I wrote:

Hello,



I am writing in regard to the United States Air Force museums planned B-25 reunion that will be held next April in Dayton Ohio. I know that the legendary James Doolittle worked for your Shell company in the 1930's. As you may know Doolittle led a raid on April 16, 1942 when he and his squadron took off from the carrier USS Hornet with 16 B-25's to make the first bombing mission on Japan. This event is to honor the history of the Doolittle raid and will probably be the last gathering of Doolittle raiders as 5 of the 9 surviving Doolittle raiders are to be at this event. I hope that your company can look into possibly helping this event out in terms of sponsorship. Any and all help would be appreciated.



Thanks for your time,



Nathan Milarta



1941 Historical Aircraft group, Geneseo NY museum volunteer


Hope it helps,
Nathan

And Still nothing from Shell
It may help things if you use the reference number # 1-3078765813 from my post and by the by ole fellow ,
The Tokyo Raiders took to the air on 18 April 1942 and into history

[Robbie Roberts]

Has there been any comment about, or interest in, WWII USAAF living historians being invited/allowed to set up a display? I know I would love to do this, and I am sure there are more of us who would... And I may be able to get the Airmen's Preservation Society (WWII APS) to add it to our schedule.

Thoughts? Information?

Robbie

[RyanShort1]

Has there been any comment about, or interest in, WWII USAAF living historians being invited/allowed to set up a display? I know I would love to do this, and I am sure there are more of us who would... And I may be able to get the Airmen's Preservation Society (WWII APS) to add it to our schedule.

Thoughts? Information?

Robbie

Some folks could even show up in Raiders-style gear...

Ryan

[Shay]

This would be fantastic! There are several problems however.

Previous "fly-ins" have always been staged at the active runway over on the base. Not at the Museum. Doing something like that post 9-11 is a stretch.

The "runway" at the Museum is in gawd-awful condition. The last landing I actually saw there was the SR-71. I believe the Hanoi POW plane landed there more recently but I didn't see it. I drove past the Museum the other day and was surprised to see them laying new asphalt at the west end of the runway. I could not guess why--maybe this is the reason!

The USAF has some sort of bizarre agreement with the Dayton (Cleveland Jr.) Airshow regarding fly-in's and static displays. I overheard a discussion about this while setting up the DZ for the parachute drop at this years Tattoo. But on the other hand they do host the WW1 Great War fly-in every other year.

No aircraft landed during the Tattoo. All were fly overs and they staged at the active base if they were RON.
The base has created a crowd access point on the south perimeter of the Museum grounds. This is how they stage the Tattoo program. However, the runway is "dead ground" and the fly-overs are done over the grass strip between the runway and the Museum. FAA regs have requirements for flight line and crowd line set backs. I just don't see how they would accommodate active landings, and static display, with a crowd present.

Approaches and landing have to be made west to east. The reason for this is that if a plane lands heading west, and runs away, it will exit the AFM property and hit either Wendy's or McDonalds off the west end of the field. If they have a malfunction landing west to east they would hit government property and that presents "less" of a problem. This was made very obvious during the return of SHOO SHOO SHOO BABY. There were THOUSANDS of people awaiting her return and landing. She circled the Museum field several times when it was apparent that the winds were wrong for the west to east approach. The CG of the base was flying in the plane at the time and he made the call to land it east to west while in the air. So she came in "over the hill" and rolled out facing the burger joints. That was a gutsy call.

April is regrettably the worst month of the year in Ohio for predicting weather. We have these little disturbances called Tornadoes....Google search Xenia, Ohio and April. Lightening DOES strike twice in the same place and nearly on the same date!

All that taken together I think they SHOULD pull out all the stops and cut all the red tape and make this thing happen.

Dave

I too notice the runway being repaved the other day. Always figured the reason most of the WW1 guys landed on the grass because it was smoother than the runway.

But for being a deactivated runway it gets alot of use on a yearly basis. The Laison Aircraft and WW1 Dawn patrol Fly-ins alternate each year. Then mix in the aircraft that arrive periodically for acquisition to the museum and Hanoi Taxi ldid and on that runway. I also saw the SR-71 and F-117 arrive.

Not sure what you're talking about regarding the Wendys and McD's they're down on Col Glenn hwy and not in line with the runway. The Army Reserve Station is considerably closer. On the other end of the runway just over the hill is a dealership that is more in danger in the case of an emergency. There is Govt. own runout on the west of the runway across Wright Bros. Pkwy/Harshman/Woodman dr/ Needmore (depending on where you're at on the road )

The B-25 at the Tattoo was Awesome. I was totally expecting him to come in west to east like most of the USAF. I was on top the hill and turned around in time to see the Mitchell in a really tight bank to line up on runway and LOW, when he past over me I was counting shiny rivets. lol The BUFF was also low going over the hill and a BUFF fills up you occular sockets quik

You sound like your from Xenia. Only people from Xenia still talk about that Tornado that hit in the 70s But I agree it might prove to e soupy but we may get lucky.

See ya there.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[bluehawk15]

(Sorry, the graphics didn't copy and transfer. Doolittle Raider's patch should be here.)




DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAIDERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Public Relations: Tom Casey 4588 Longleaf Lane
Sarasota, Florida 34241 ~ 941 921 7361


NEWS RELEASE December 2, 2009


DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAIDERS PLANNING AN AVIATION FIRST AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE


Sarasota, Fla - The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association in cooperation with owners of North American B-25 Mitchell bombers from all over the U.S.A. and Canada, are planning to host 25 of these famous WWII war birds April 16 – 18 during their 68th reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

This will be the first time since WWII that this many B-25’s have been assembled for public viewing. The event titled “A Tribute of Mitchell B-25’s to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders” is a major financial project which will depend on raising funds to support the fuel, oil for the planes and housing for the crews participating.

The B-25 Mitchell became one of the most effective medium bombers of WWII and was made famous by the Doolittle Tokyo Raid on Japan, April 18th 1942. Today these Mitchells are one of the most popular aircraft seen at museums and air shows.

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association is seeking financial help for this important mission in the way of sponsorships and donations. Your contribution or sponsorship will be most welcome at this time.

Please contact: Tom Casey, Manager, Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association Inc. (941) 921 7361 or Email tomcat911@comcast.net

- end -

[Jerry O'Neill]

I hope they don't invite Alec Baldwin!
Jerry

[warbird1]

(Sorry, the graphics didn't copy and transfer. Doolittle Raider's patch should be here.)




DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAIDERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Public Relations: Tom Casey 4588 Longleaf Lane
Sarasota, Florida 34241 ~ 941 921 7361


NEWS RELEASE December 2, 2009


DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAIDERS PLANNING AN AVIATION FIRST AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE


Sarasota, Fla - The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association in cooperation with owners of North American B-25 Mitchell bombers from all over the U.S.A. and Canada, are planning to host 25 of these famous WWII war birds April 16 – 18 during their 68th reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

This will be the first time since WWII that this many B-25’s have been assembled for public viewing. The event titled “A Tribute of Mitchell B-25’s to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders” is a major financial project which will depend on raising funds to support the fuel, oil for the planes and housing for the crews participating.

The B-25 Mitchell became one of the most effective medium bombers of WWII and was made famous by the Doolittle Tokyo Raid on Japan, April 18th 1942. Today these Mitchells are one of the most popular aircraft seen at museums and air shows.

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association is seeking financial help for this important mission in the way of sponsorships and donations. Your contribution or sponsorship will be most welcome at this time.

Please contact: Tom Casey, Manager, Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association Inc. (941) 921 7361 or Email tomcat911@comcast.net

- end -

Wow, they just now put out a press release for an event that is only 4 months away? That doesn't give me any confidence at all that they will be able to pull it off.

[bluehawk15]

Well, let's see....Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan on 7 DEC 41. Flight crews were picked from scattered bomber crews from various squadrons and trained to take 16 B-25's off from a carrier, and bombed Japan on 18 APR 42.

They put a press release out on 2 DEC 09, and the "target" date is 18 APR 10. Seems like they have five extra days to pull something off that should be easy compared to the original event!

They have been working on this for a while, and have several sponsors already, but it seems to me that this was an appeal for more people to help financially, as the fuel bill alone is going to be HUGE just to get the planes there. As Operations Officer for the B-25 Yellow Rose, I have known about, and been planning for this, for a while already. I assume most of the other B-25 operators have been as well.

[rcaf_100]

...The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association in cooperation with owners of North American B-25 Mitchell bombers from all over the U.S.A. and Canada, are planning to host 25 of these famous WWII war birds April 16 – 18 during their 68th reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio....

Since there's only one Mitchell operating up here, it looks as though CWH's 'Hot Gen' is going to be there.

I sure hope they can pull it off.