People
and airplanes among activities that recall daring World War II mission
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin —
(April 18, 2017) — The lone remaining veteran of the famed Doolittle Raiders
mission of April 1942 and at least 16 B-25 bombers will be part of the raid’s
75th anniversary commemoration and air show activities at EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2017
at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The 65th annual Experimental
Aircraft Association fly-in convention, the “World’s Greatest Aviation
Celebration,” will be held July 24-30.
The 75th anniversary activities will honor
those involved in the daring mission that involved 16 B-25 bombers that
departed from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942, and
bombed military sites in Japan. The “Doolittle Raiders,” led by legendary pilot
Jimmy Doolittle, then faced hardships after their airplanes made forced
landings in China and other areas.
“The Doolittle Raid 75 years ago was
important, not as much for its military gains as it was a morale lift to an
American military and public that had been buffeted by bad news in the months
immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice
president of communities and member benefits who coordinates AirVenture
features and attractions. “Our activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year
will connect our attendees with the importance of this mission, as well as the
people and aircraft involved.”
Among the highlights of the 75th anniversary
commemoration will be a July 26 evening program with 101-year-old Dick Cole,
the only remaining member of the 80 original Doolittle Raiders, as well as
Jimmy Doolittle’s grandchildren, Jimmy Doolittle III and Jonna Doolittle
Hoppes.
“I want to thank EAA for honoring the Raiders
at their 75th anniversary,” said Cole, who was co-pilot for Doolittle in the
lead aircraft. “Thank you for paying tribute to us even though we never felt
like heroes. We were just doing our job. We can also never forget the men who
fought at Wake, Midway, and all across the Pacific. See you at Oshkosh.”
Other highlights include:
n
Arrival of at least 16 B-25 bombers at
AirVenture by Tuesday, July 25, with the aircraft parked in AirVenture’s
warbird area. Notable aircraft already confirmed include Panchito
(Delaware Aviation Museum); Briefing Time (Mid-Atlantic Air Museum); Yankee
Warrior (Yankee Air Museum); Miss Hap (American Airpower Museum); Barbie
III (Cavanaugh Flight Museum); Devil Dog (Commemorative Air Force);
and Miss Mitchell (Commemorative Air Force – Minnesota Wing).
n
Several programs at the popular Warbirds of
America “Warbirds in Review” speaker series.
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Sixteen B-25s flying in the warbirds air show
on Tuesday, July 25, and re-enacting the 1942 Doolittle Raid to start the night
air show on Wednesday, July 26.
Other highlights will be announced as they
are finalized.
About
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s
yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including
advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on
admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call
1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is
available at www.twitter.com/EAA.
Labels: air force, aircraft, airshows, Airventure, Aviation, B-24, B-25, B-29, blue angels, c-130, Doolittle, EAA, FAA, military airshow teams, sun and fun, sun n fun, USA, world war 2, WW2