Post by Don Gieseke on Apr 18, 2017 15:06:51 GMT -6
Hi all, please take a moment to remember our fallen heroes from the Doolittle Raid, 75 years ago today. On April 18, 1942 sixteen B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, led by LtCol James H. Doolittle, launched from the carrier USS Hornet and bombed targets in Tokyo, and other areas on the island of Honshu. This historic offensive raid, coming just four months after the devastating attack on our Naval base at Pearl Harbor, This served mainly as a morale booster to the American public,
There is a Missouri Aviator connection in the fact that Charles McClure from University City, was Ted Lawson's navigator on the B-25 "Ruptured Duck". Of course, Jimmy Doolittle had called St. Louis home in the 1930's while he served as the aviation manager for Shell Oil at Lambert Airport. Please see attached file for more information on Charles McClure and their B-25. The link will take you to the NMUSAF with this afternoon's flyover and other commemorative events celebrating the 75th anniversary.
Our own St. Charles based CAF "Show Me" squadron B-25 has been at Wright-Patterson AFB since last Friday taking part in the ceremonies with other restored Mitchell bombers.
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Press-Room/News/Article-Display/Article/1114214/b-25-mitchell-bombers-to-highlight-events-commemorating-75th-anniversary-of-the/
Missouri Aviation Historical Society