Ellsworth AFB celebrates 80th anniversary of Doolittle Raid

Ellsworth Air Force Base recognized the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid through several events including a heritage flight, the dedication of a Joint 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."

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