Doolittle Tokyo Raiders to be honored at concert by Airmen of Note

Published March 30, 2010
By Rob Bardua
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

DAYTON, OHIO -- The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders will be honored in a special way during their 68th reunion with a tribute concert performed by the premier jazz ensemble of U.S. Air Force, the Airmen of Note, at Wright State University's Nutter Center on April 17 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert is free to the public and will feature patriotic and WWII era music. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. No tickets are necessary and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Corps dance band, the Airmen of Note features 18 of the most talented jazz musicians in the country and is one of the last touring big bands. As a result, they have earned an international reputation as one of the finest and most versatile big bands of its kind in the world.

Now in their 60th year, the Airmen of Note have presented their exciting brand of big band music to audiences throughout the United States, dozens of countries in Europe and Asia, as well as in their home area of Washington, D.C.

Other events planned during what could possibly be the Raiders' last major public reunion include three autograph sessions, a memorial service and a B-25 flyover at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

In addition, the museum's Family Day programs will feature the Doolittle Tokyo Raid, and the film "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," will be shown in the museum's Carney Auditorium on April 17.

See the full reunion schedule including event times at http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/doolittle.asp.

Fundraising efforts by the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association, Inc., to fly in and land 25 B-25 Mitchell bombers on the runway behind the museum continue. If their efforts are successful, this aviation event would be the largest gathering of B-25s since World War II. To date, 18 B-25 bombers have agreed to participate.

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.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 904-9881.

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