Courtesy Story | 62nd Airlift Wing | 04.13.2023
On a Pacific Northwest winter day in early 1942, a U.S. Army Air Force Lieutenant Colonel came to McChord Air Force Base searching for a few good men from the 17th Bombardment Group to join him on a secret mission. The mission would not be easy and there was a good chance they could die, but they would bring pride to their nation. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7,......
Story by Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone | 28th Bomb Wing | 04.18.2022
The 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid was celebrated through several base events including a heritage flight, the dedication of a JASSM to a local museum, as well as a toast and tail flash unveiling....
Courtesy Story | 62nd Airlift Wing | 04.18.2019
Today marks the 77th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid. Eighty Airmen, at least ten of whom trained at McChord Field, put service before self and volunteered to deliver America’s response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. In order to boost the American public’s morale in the wake of the devastating attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt......
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlotte Oliver | All Hands Magazine | 04.18.2017
USS Hornet (CV 8) steamed out of San Francisco Bay, April 2, 1942, with 16 modified B-25 Mitchell bombers and about 200 men led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle. Best known as the “Raiders,” their mission was so secret that neither the Hornet nor the base (Alameda Naval Station) was ever mentioned until years later. President Franklin D. Roosevelt only referred to it as “Shangri-la.”...
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlotte Oliver | All Hands Magazine | 04.17.2017
The deck of USS Hornet (CV 8), code named "Shangri-la," pitched and rolled in the swells of the Western Pacific Ocean. Sixteen B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were preparing for a historic takeoff – 467 feet and no room for error....
Story by Senior Airman James Miller | 28th Bomb Wing | 04.14.2017
Multiple B-1 bombers from Ellsworth will travel to Dayton, Ohio, for the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid which will include a high-speed flyover and the unveiling of the “Ruptured Duck” nose art....
Story by 2nd Lt. Phil Fountain | Texas Military Department | 03.06.2017
AUSTIN, Texas – Airmen of the Texas Military Department helped the Texas Senate honor the World War II veterans who participated in an air raid over Japan, during a ceremony held at the Texas Capitol, in Austin, March 6, 2017....
Story by Airman 1st Class Denise Jenson | 28th Bomb Wing | 06.27.2016
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. - "Quite simply, David Thatcher was the best of us." That is how Col. John Martin, 28th Operations Group commander, characterized one of the last two Doolittle Raiders -- U.S. Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. David Thatcher -- who was laid to rest June 27 during a special ceremony in Missoula, Montana....
