USAF Ellsworth AFB celebrates 80th anniversary of Doolittle Raid with a special B-1B tail art

B-1B Lancer 85-060 decorated for the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid

Ellsworth Air Force Base recognized the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid through several events including a heritage flight, the dedication of a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to a local museum, as well as a toast and tail flash unveiling.

On April 18, 1942, 200 volunteers delivered the first long-range strike of World War II. Led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle, 80 Raiders in 16 B-25 Bombers took off from the deck of the USS Hornet.

Finally, new B-1 tail art dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid was revealed on aircraft 85-0060. The tail art consists of a B-25, a Doolittle Raiders patch, and patches from the five participating Doolittle Raid Squadrons. 

(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Austin McIntosh)