Vintage B-25 bomber to visit Ellsworth's Open House

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD --  A B-25 Mitchell, the same aircraft responsible for the famous "Doolittle Raid" over Tokyo in 1942, is scheduled to fly over Ellsworth and be a featured static display at Ellsworth's open house June 23. 

The B-25 was a bomber that saw action in World War II. Its presence here is directly tied to Ellsworth celebrating America's proud bomber heritage, which is the theme for this year's open house. 

"This aircraft is rooted in history and, in particular, the history of Ellsworth," said Maj. Jonathan Creer, 28th Bomb Wing director of staff. "The aviators in the 28th Operations Group here still call themselves 'Doolittle's Raiders." 

The B-25 ensured its place in aviation history in April, 1942. Sixteen B-25s, led by then Lt. Col. Doolittle, leaped from the USS Hornet ahead of their projected departure time and bombed Tokyo in a surprise attack. While the attacks did not hold actual strategic significance in regards to the outcome of the war, the raid struck a blow at Japan in direct reprisal for the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

The B-25 is a two-engine, medium bomber. It went into production in 1939 and saw combat immediately after the Nation entered the war against the Axis powers. The aircraft held a crew of six Airmen, featuring two pilots, a navigator who also served as a bombardier, turret gunner who doubled as an engineer, a radio operator who also manned the waist gun and one lone tail gunner. 

The aircraft bristled with firepower. It held 12 .50-caliber machine guns and could carry 6,000 lbs. of ordnance over its target. 

The Mitchell could maximize its airspeed at 275 mph and its cruising speed is 235 mph.
"This airplane is living, breathing history," said Col. Jeffry Smith, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "There simply aren't a lot of these things left. I encourage all of our neighbors, families and friends in the local community to come to our open house and look at this magnificent machine." 

The open house is scheduled for June 23. The main gate, accessible through the Air and Space Museum exit from I-90, will open to visitors at 9 a.m.