News United States Air Force
 Ellsworth AFB celebrates 80th anniversary of Doolittle RaidPublished April 19, 2022
                        
                        By Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone
                        
                        
                        28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
                **ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS) --**
                **Ellsworth Air Force Base**recognized the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid through several events including a heritage flight, the dedication of aJoint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to a local museum, as well as a toast and tail flash unveiling.

On April 18, 1942, 200 volunteers delivered the first long-range strike of World War II. Led by**Lt. Col. James Doolittle**, 80 Raiders in 16 B-25 Bombers took off from the deck of the USS Hornet.

“Today is a historic day,” said Col. Joseph Sheffield, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “Today we commemorate the brave and bold Raiders of the past, the dedication and sacrifice of the original Doolittle Raiders.”

The day’s events began with the unveiling of a JASSM dedication at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. The missile was dedicated on the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid in honor of the April 14, 2018, mission to Barzah, Syria. During this mission, 19 JASSM were used in the first combat employment of the weapon.

“As threats have evolved, so too has the B-1 mission,” Sheffield said. “However, there are some things that have remained the same for a long time now. For Ellsworth Air Force Base, the Raider heritage courses through the very construct of our mission. Over the past 80 years, we have continued to build and expand upon the same qualities that made them so successful during World War II.”

Mrs. Becky Thatcher-Keller, the daughter of Cpl. David J. Thatcher, an original member of the Doolittle Raid, offers a toast in honor of the fallen crew members at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., April 18, 2022. The history of this toast stretched back to the 60th birthday of Gen. James H. Doolittle when he was presented with a bottle of 1896 Hennessy VS to celebrate his birthday and leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Senior Airman Austin McIntosh)Mrs. Becky Thatcher-Keller, the daughter of Cpl. David J. Thatcher, an original member of the Doolittle Raid, offers a toast in honor of the fallen crew members at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., April 18, 2022. The history of this toast stretched back to the 60th birthday of Gen. James H. Doolittle when he was presented with a bottle of 1896 Hennessy VS to celebrate his birthday and leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Senior Airman Austin McIntosh)
            
            
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    Col. Joseph Sheffield, 28th Bomb Wing commander, dedicates a new Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., April 18, 2022. Ellsworth AFB holds Air Force Global Strike Command's largest stockpile of JASSM, and the Raiders were the first Airmen to employ the missiles in a combat scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adam Olson)Col. Joseph Sheffield, 28th Bomb Wing commander, dedicates a new Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., April 18, 2022. Ellsworth AFB holds Air Force Global Strike Command's largest stockpile of JASSM, and the Raiders were the first Airmen to employ the missiles in a combat scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adam Olson)
            
            
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    Airmen from the 28th Maintenance Squadron prepare to hang a Joint- Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 5, 2022. The missile is dedicated to the April 14, 2018, mission in Barsah, Syria, where the JASSM was first used in a combat scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone)Airmen from the 28th Maintenance Squadron prepare to hang a Joint- Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 5, 2022. The missile is dedicated to the April 14, 2018, mission in Barsah, Syria, where the JASSM was first used in a combat scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone)
            
            
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The event included a speech from Becky Thatcher-Keller, daughter of David J. Thatcher, an original member of Crew 7 during the Doolittle Raid. After her speech, she gave the final toast to a room filled with members of the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons.

Finally, new B-1 tail art dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid was revealed on aircraft 85-0060. The tail art consists of a B-25, a Doolittle Raiders patch, and patches from the five participating Doolittle Raid Squadrons.

“We are proud to be called Raiders, not because of one event, but more for what it means to be a Raider,” said Master Sergeant Michael Bowser, the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron lead production superintendent. “A heritage aircraft paint scheme is an excellent example of our professionalism, lineage, and at the same time, shows our local community our Air Force branding as Raiders.”

A quote added on the nose of the B-1 read, “In remembrance of the Doolittle Raiders.”LR 



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