With the focus in the past week or so on the retired super-carrier USS Ranger (CV-61) and the Doolittle Raiders, I figured this was a neat tie-in.
The restored World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber aircraft “Heavenly Body” takes off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CV-61) in 1992. It and another B-25 are being launched in a re-enactment of “Doolittle’s Raid” of April 18, 1942, during which 16 B-25’s were launched from the aircraft carrier USS HORNET (CV-8) in the first attack on the Japanese mainland. PHCM TERRY MITCHELL – ID:DN-ST-92-09801. (click to big up)
Restored B-25 “In the Mood” lifting off of Ranger, same day, same occasion.
Of course, these planes had in some cases a take off run more than double that of the raiders who took off from the Hornet in 1942, but hey, they still flew B-25 bombers off a flat-top. And when you add to the fact that the Mitchells were pushing 50 years of age…not bad.
