On the nose of the B-1B Lancer, a quotation was added, “In remembrance of the Doolittle Raiders.”
Many base events were held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, including a heritage flight, the dedication of a JASSM to a nearby museum, a toast, and the unveiling of a tail flash.
The 34th conducted anti-submarine warfare operations in the Pacific Northwest from December 22, 1941, until about March 1942, in the immediate wake of the Pearl Harbor Attack. On February 9, 1942, it was transferred to Lexington County Airport in South Carolina in response to the increased threat posed by German submarines operating off the East Coast. The only B-25s in use at the time belonged to the 17th Bombardment Group.
In December 1941, preparations for a retaliatory bombing strike on Japan got under way. 24 B-25Bs were diverted from the 17th Bombardment Group, and volunteers from all three squadrons (the 34th, 37th, and 95th) were sought out. The crews were only informed that the operation would be highly dangerous and up against great odds. For training, the volunteers relocated to Florida’s Eglin Field. The crews trained taking off in the shortest amount of space feasible without knowing what kind of mission they were preparing for.
After training was complete, seventeen crews moved from Eglin Field to McClellan Field in California for the B-25s’ last set of modifications before transferring to Naval Air Station Alameda, where the bombers were loaded onto the USS Hornet (CV-8) and the members of the Doolittle Raider task force departed on April 2, 1942.
200 volunteers launched the first long-range attack of World War II on April 18, 1942. 80 Raiders and 16 B-25 Bombers took off from the USS Hornet’s deck under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle.
“Today is a historic day,” said Col. Joseph Sheffield, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “Today we commemorate the brave and bold Raiders of the past, the dedication and sacrifice of the original Doolittle Raiders.”
The day’s activities began with the unveiling of a Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASSM) at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, according to Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone of the 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs, who was quoted in the article Ellsworth celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. The missile was dedicated in remembrance of the April 14, 2018, mission to Barzah, Syria on the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. 19 JASSM were employed in this mission as the weapon’s first combat use.
“As threats have evolved, so too has the B-1 mission,” said Sheffield. “However, there are some things that have remained the same for a long time now. For Ellsworth Air Force Base, the Raider heritage courses through the very construct of our mission. Over the past 80 years, we have continued to build and expand upon the same qualities that made them so successful during World War II.”
Becky Thatcher-Keller, the daughter of David J. Thatcher, a founding member of Crew 7 during the Doolittle Raid, delivered a speech during the ceremony. Following her speech, she was given the distinction of making the last toast in front of the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons.
The 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid was commemorated with new B-1B Lancer tail art, which was unveiled on aircraft 85-0060. The Doolittle Raiders patch, a B-25, and patches from each of the five participating Doolittle Raid Squadrons make up the tail art.
“We are proud to be called Raiders, not because of one event, but more for what it means to be a Raider,” said Master Sergeant Michael Bowser, the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron lead production superintendent. “A heritage aircraft paint scheme is an excellent example of our professionalism, lineage, and at the same time, shows our local community our Air Force branding as Raiders.”
On the B-1B’s nose, a quote was added, “In remembrance of the Doolittle Raiders.”
Photo by: Senior Airman Austin McIntosh and Airman 1st Class Adam Olson / U.S. Air Force
