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Wing pays homage to Dolittle raid at commander's call

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Trevor Saylor
  • 934th Airlift Wing
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. --  An aviation legend visited the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station to mark an important date in Air Force history. The B-25 bomber was used in the historic Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942, that signaled the start of American attacks on mainland Japan in World War Two.

Following the catastrophic attack at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt expressed to the Joint Chiefs that Japan be bombed as soon as possible in order to prove to the Imperial Japanese, and to Americans alike, that the Japanese were not invincible. Hitting Japan, however, would not be easy because their defenses were so strong.

American Bombers had to be specifically outfitted to not only launch from Aircraft carriers, but to also have sufficient range to fly over Japan, execute an unlikely mission, and then continue to fly onto safety into China. One of our great pioneers who would ultimately become a legend, was entrusted to plan such a mission. His name was Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle who was the mastermind behind what is now known as the Doolittle raid.

The privately owned bomber was on display at the base to commemorate the anniversary of the raids because of an important tie-in with the local air station. Some of the planes that were used for the raid were customized to carry the necessary fuel and bombs required for the mission. A group of mechanics from Minnesota were contracted to work on the planes.

Tim Blotz, a local news anchor, came to the base to address the 934th Airlift Wing, because his grandfather, Phillip Blotz, was one of those mechanics.

Blotz spoke about the level of customization that was required for the aircraft, which was extensive; he also spoke about the secrecy surrounding the project.

“The airline mechanics were contracted to install extra fuel tanks although no one knew what they were for,” said Blotz. “The flight crew assumed they were for extended submarine duty over the Atlantic.”

Instead, the B-25 bombers were used in the now-famous Doolittle raid. It was an honor for the men and women of the Global Vikings to be a part of the commemoration of this amazing chapter in Air Force history.