Media invited to cover Doolittle Tokyo Raiders reunion

  • Published
  • By 010412
DAYTON, Ohio --  

WHAT: Media are invited to cover the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, April 17-20.

**Media interested in covering any part of this four-day event must register by Thursday, April 12 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012doolittlemedia. (A parking pass and additional instructions will be sent after the registration form is received.)**

WHERE: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

WHEN: April 17 - 20 (The media opportunity to interview the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders will be on April 18 at 3 p.m.)

BACKGROUND: On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

This year, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders will commemorate the 70th anniversary of their raid on Japan. At this time, all five of the living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders - Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, Maj. Thomas C. Griffin and Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher - are able to travel and plan to be on-hand for the reunion events.

Reunion events that will be open the media include the B-25 landing and static display; memorial service and formation flyover; banquet and autograph session at the museum.

Currently twenty B-25 Mitchell bombers plan to come from across the nation and land on the runway behind the museum on the morning of April 17. The aircraft will then be placed on public display from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. On April 18 around 12:15 p.m., the aircraft will take-off , form-up together over the Dayton area and then fly in formation over the museum at 1 p.m. - just prior to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' Memorial Service.

Note: Outdoor reunion events are weather contingent and subject to change. For more information or to see the full reunion schedule with event times, visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/doolittle.asp.


NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information, please contact Rob Bardua at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Division at (937) 255-1386.