Public has chance to visit World War II-era B25 Mitchell Bomber Tuesday at airport

World War II and aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in seeing a B25 Mitchell bomber up close, have an opportunity on Tuesday.

The bombers were used in various military campaigns, including the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942. According to historical records, the campaign, which was led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle, set out to drop bombs on strategic military and industrial targets in Japan. It was a retaliation strike after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Of the 16 bombers that left on the raid, 15 crash-landed in China or were ditched at sea because they were low on fuel. The other one landed near Vozdvizhenka in the Soviet Union.

Of the 80 airmen who participated in the raid, three died during bailouts or crash landings. Two crews were captured by Japanese forces after bailing out in eastern China. Of those men, one died of dysentery while in captivity and three were executed by the Japanese. Four others were prisoners until the end of the war.

The crew that landed in the Soviet Union was taken into custody. Those men were freed as part of an elaborate operation disguised as an escape.

"Every one of these guys knew it was a one-way trip," said John Mollison, board member for the South Dakota Air & Space Foundation and producer of RAID'22.

Mollison said the five-member crews on each of the bombers set out with limited fuel and a goal of finding specific landing strips in China, but most ran out of fuel.

Hosted by the Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition, RAID'22 is a tour with several stops across South Dakota that include an overnight visit to Aberdeen. There will be an open house from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the airport and school visits by those familiar with the bomber Wednesday morning. The bomber will be at Hangar 9 at Aberdeen Regional Airport.

The RAID'22 tour begins Tuesday with stops in Sioux Falls and Brookings before landing in Aberdeen. Stops in Chamberlain and Rosebud are planned for Wednesday, and stops in Pierre and Rapid City are set for Thursday. The tour precedes the Ellsworth Air and Space Show, which is May 14 and 15 at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.

Two of the airmen in the Doolittle Raid were from South Dakota. They were Lt. Donald Smith and Lt. Henry Potter, Mollison said. Smith was one of the 16 pilots who flew the bombers, according to a crew list, and Potter was the navigator for Doolittle.

The Aberdeen stop is being arranged by local event coordinator Chad Vetter, Hangar 9, Aberdeen Regional Airport and the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce.

Vetter said this will be a unique chance for people in Aberdeen to see a World War II-era aircraft.

"It's a great opportunity for students and the community to experience military aviation up close," he said.

Vetter said five VIP rides will be given to pre-selected individuals.

This bomber featured in the tour is from Fleming Field in Minneapolis.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: B25 bomber from World War II era will land in Aberdeen Tuesday