B-25 bomber tour across South Dakota postponed because of mechanical issues

A World War II era B-25 bomber that was going to tour South Dakota this week has developed mechanical issues, prompting the tour to be postponed.

John Mollison, a Sioux Falls aviation artist and historian who produced the event, known as RAID'22, called it a "heartbreaking" development.

“The amount of community support, energy and enthusiasm behind RAID’22 has been extraordinary," Mollison said in a release.

The B-25 was the type of plane used to bomb Japan during the early days of the war after Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor. The Doolittle Raid proved to be a symbolic uplift for the nation,

Two South Dakotans participated in the raid, and Mollison hoped to use the event to distribute a field manual he developed on South Dakota's aviation history to school children.

More: Sioux Falls aviation historian develops educational field manual

The plane was scheduled to be in Sioux Falls, Brookings, Aberdeen and other communities as it made its way to Rapid City for the Ellsworth Airshow. The airshow will continue as scheduled, and a different B-25 will be on display.

The B-25 that was to tour the state is owned by the Minnesota chapter of the Commemorative Air Force and named Miss Mitchell.

“These airplanes are strong and well maintained, said Jim Lauria of the MN CAF. "But they are mechanical objects that are subject to the same forces that can wear and break anything. The CAFs relationship with South Dakota, RAID and the Airshow is like family — this makes it all the harder to realize we simply cannot make the necessary repairs in time."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Mechanical issues ground South Dakota B-25 bomber plane tour