Doolittle Raid

mongoose

mongoose

SOH-CM-2023
Last night I just saw and heard this 102 year old at the National World war I Memorial and Museum, KCMO. He had a dry humour! He was Doolittle's co pilot on the Tokyo raid.
I went with a 92 year old B24 ball turret gunner from 453rd bomb group 732 Sqdn; a very lively guy.

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I had the great pleasure to be at the Doolittle Raiders 59th reunion and airshow in 2001 at the Fresno, CA airport. When the Raiders appeared to sign autographs and speak, their was so many people crowded around their tables you couldn't get in edge wise. Was glad to see them get some well deserved recognition. As I recall, there was something like 13 or 14 B-25s on hand, supposedly the largest gathering of airworthy Mitchells since WWII. The sight and sound of them flying over the field was truly impressive.
 
I attended a reunion a few years back (70th maybe?) at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. Four vets were able to make it, along with some 20 B-25s which did a mass flyover. I was running late and had just stepped out of my car when they all roared directly overhead at 300ft. It was the most awesome display of air power I have ever seen.
 
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