For the past 80 years, only one B-25B bomber aircraft made famous by the Doolittle Tokyo Raid during World War II, has miraculously survived. This particular aircraft, bearing the US Army Air Force serial number #40-2347, holds the distinction of being the 117th out of 120 B models produced by North American Aviation during the war.
Notably, Doolittle’s B-25B #40-2344 used for the mission was just three aircraft apart from the sole surviving B-25B #40-2347 on the same production line. Both were built by the same dedicated men and women workforce, on the same shifts, using the same tools, and both aircraft rolled out on the same historic day – December 23, 1941.
Over the course of the next five years, a dedicated effort will be undertaken to meticulously restore and remanufacture the sole surviving B-25B #40-2347 from World War II to precisely match the specifications and markings of the Doolittle/Cole B Model #40-2344 that was used on the Doolittle Tokyo Raid mission.
Subsequent to this restoration, a multi-year National Heritage Flight Program will be launched, featuring the historic sole surviving B-25B Raider flying in formation with the new, highly classified Northrup B-21 Stealth Bomber, aptly named the “B-21 Raider” in honor of Doolittle and the 80 courageous Tokyo Raiders.
