ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release) – A historic aircraft signifying the impact of the Doolittle Raid during World War II and its connection to South Dakota will be making a stop in Aberdeen this month.

Hosted by the Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition, a flying WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber, the same type of aircraft used in the famous Doolittle Raid, will be touring across the state from May 10-13, as a precursor to the 2022 Ellsworth Air and Space Show. The tour is called “RAID’22,” as a homage to the two South Dakotans who took part in the famous “Doolittle Raid” of 1942 and Ellsworth Air Force Bases’ military lineage connecting to the Doolittle Raiders.  The historic B-25 aircraft’s flight plan will begin in Sioux Falls on May 9 and will travel with stops in Brookings, Aberdeen, Chamberlain, Rosebud and Pierre before its final stop at Rapid City.

The B-25 will land at Hangar 9 FBO, located at 4610 6^th Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD and will be open for public viewing from 2:30 pm to 5;30 pm on Tuesday, May 10^th.  

The event is being coordinated in Aberdeen by Community Crew Chief, Chad Vetter of Dacotah Bank, with local partners including Hangar 9 FBO, the Aberdeen Regional Airport and the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce.

Vetter is also working with the schools in Aberdeen and the surrounding region to provide middle school students the opportunity to attend a private viewing of the aircraft on Wednesday, May 11^th from 8:15 am – 9:45 am. Specifically designed educational materials featuring the leadership examples from South Dakota aviators will be distributed, in addition to other mementos designed to reinforce the unity of the state’s commitment to our military heritage and future, especially that heritage tied to Ellsworth Air Force Base

For more information on RAID’22, contact: John Mollison, South Dakota Air & Space Museum at (605) 261-6070 or Lynn Kendall, Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition at (605) 484-7754.