Doolittle Raiders

[ffuries]

Here are some shots from the Doolittle Raiders at Duke Field, FL (Eglin Aux Field 3). The Raiders actually practiced at another nearby auxiliary field. I have about 80 different pictures from this event.













Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

[Chris]

How many of the Raiders are left? It's sad to see their numbers dwindling but I'll bet the General has a massive reunion planned when the last one joins their ranks.

[ffuries]

As of 17 March 2008 11 Raiders out of the original 80 are still alive.

William M. Bower
Richard E. Cole
Thomas C. Griffin
Robert L. Hite
Edwin W. Horton, Jr.
David M. Jones
Frank A. Kappeler
James H. Macia
Charles J. Ozuk
Edward J. Saylor
David J. Thatcher

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

Last edited by ffuries on Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Who is that all in the pictures?

[Ken]

I've flown missions in and out of Eglin's Aux #6, also known as Camp Rudder, where some Ranger training takes place. At one point a controller told us that remnants of the yellow stripes used for Doolittle's practice were still visible, but I never saw anything. To the contrary, some internet sites suggest Aux 3 (Duke) as the location. I'd love to know the real deal.

Here is a link to a view of Aux 6:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q ... 8&t=k&z=15

And a link to more information on this and (some) abandoned fields in FL:
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Air ... tm#biancur

[Ian Quinn]

Found this to be one of the better sites for crew photos...all taken on the wind blown deck.

http://www.doolittleraider.com/80_brave_men.htm

[ffuries]

The Doolittle Raiders didn't practice out of Eglin Aux Fileld 3 (Duke Field).

The Son Tay Raid was practiced out there. The flying sequences from 12 0' Clock High (including Paul Mantz' fantastic wheels up landing) were filmed at Duke Field.

Eglin Aux Field 1 (Wagner Field) is the one that Raiders used to practice their takeoffs from.

Raiders attending the event with their highest rank attained and rank at the time of the raid were:

Maj. Gen./Capt. Davy Jones
Col. / Lt. William M. Bower
Lt. Col./Lt. Robert E. Cole
Lt. Col./Lt. Robert L. Hite
Maj./Lt. Thomas C. Griffin, navigator
MSgt./SSgt. Ed Horton
SSgt/Sgt. David J. Thatcher

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

[ffuries]

Three more pictures from the event.








Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

[Lynn Allen]

The Yellow Rose was the only B-25 to attend the 50th Anniv. party for the Raiders....

Lynn

[ffuries]

What is the raised panel under the flight station right beneath the open window on Killer B? I don't see it on Special Delivery or Yellow Rose.

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

What is the raised panel under the flight station right beneath the open window on Killer B? I don't see it on Special Delivery or Yellow Rose.

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

I think it's armour plate, Mike.

[Holedigger]

Kudo's to all involved. Hopefully this was a great event for the vets. As has been said, fewer each year.

All 3 B-25s are later models by the looks of them. All of the 25s in the raid were Bs? All if my searching has only come up with a B front clip. Even the one in the USAFM is a make-believe B model (although it is incorrectly listed as a B in a number of places. Shame none have survived.

[ffuries]

The USAFM B-25, which is painted and marked as Doolittle's aircraft is actually a B-25D-30NC c/n 100-23700 43-3374, ex-F-10D, " 02344".

As for the ones at the reunion they are.

Yellow Rose = B-25J-5NC c/n 108-34881 43-27868 (N25YR), ex-TB-25N BD-881.

Killer B = B-25J-30NC c/n 108-47451 44-86697 (N62163), ex-TB-25J, ex-RCAF 5239, ex-Venezuela AF FAV 0953.

Special Delivery = B-25J-30NC c/n 108-47488 44-86734 (N333RW), ex-TB-25N BD-734.

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

Last edited by ffuries on Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:12 pm, edited 4 times in total.

[Holedigger]

I saw "Killer Bee" at the McDill Airshow earlier this year. Very nicely kept!

[RyanShort1]

Even the one in the USAFM is a make-believe B model (although it is incorrectly listed as a B in a number of places. Shame none have survived.

Not so my friend... There is at least one surviving B-25B - at Aero Trader in California. I would surely like to see it restored someday. By serial number it is 3 aircraft up the line from the plane Doolittle flew.

See: http://www.doolittleraid.com/research.htm for pictures.

Ryan