Thanks to our friend Ford Murray in Pearl Harbor for this find. Video was shot by Terri Polley, who does amateur videography for Cable Airport pilots in Upland, CA. Seven individuals — including Terri, her husband Mike (a pilot of the Pacific Princess), owners Carl Scholl, Tony Ritzmann, and John Paul — flew in the Princess from Chino, CA to the Doolittle Reunion. It was Larry Kelly, owner of B-25 Panchito, who organized the gathering of B-25s in support of the Doolittle Raiders. Thanks to Terri’s sister Jerri of www.victorygirl.com, a nose art and painted jacket company, for the background information.
The Doolittle Raiders were a group of B-25 pilots and crew who flew B-25Bs from the USS Carrier Hornet in April 1942 to attack Tokyo, Japan — delivering a tremendous morale boost to Americans during a dark time of WWII. B-25J Pacific Princess and crew participated in the largest gathering of B-25s since WWII for the 68th Doolittle Raiders Reunion held April 17–18, 2010, at USAF Museum, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. Seventeen B-25s formed up for a flyover of the Doolittle Memorial ceremony. Of the original 79 Raiders, 8 remained; 4 were able to attend the 2010 event. Air-to-air shots were filmed from the tail gunner seat of Pacific Princess, ship #2 in the 17-ship formation.
See also: Three Doolittle Raiders were executed by the Japanese.
Click a title below the player to select a video.