B-25 In The Morning
This Sunday morning at 0725hrs, the B-25 Pacific Princess warming up on the ramp at the Palm Springs Air Museum for departure.
Flying In A B-25
Flying in the nose of a World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber over the Salton Sea. Today April 18th is the anniversary of the Doolittle Raid On Tokyo in 1942. Sixteen B-25’s flew off the deck of the USS Hornet as the first retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Of the 80 crew members, 77 survived the mission. Eight airmen were captured by the Japanese Army in China; three were later executed.
Video from a hat mounted GoPro as I shot video and photos with my iPhone and a Fujifilm X-Series camera.
We were headed for a Veterans Day flyover at the Glamis Sand Dunes with other World War II aircraft. I was texting our location and timing and also doing social media posts.
Also somewhat of a video self; you can see my reflection on the iPhone.
The B-25 “Executive Sweet” from the American Aeronautical Foundation. That day flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Memorial Day 2019
Just some of what I did (shoot some video) on Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum…
Aircraft start up for the flyover and flower drop, Memorial Day 2019 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber, F4U Corsair, P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, PB4Y-2 Privateer and T-33 jet “Shooting Star”.
Air To Air And For Veterans Day
Honoring our Veterans last Saturday flying out to Veterans Memorial Park in Coachella. I was flying and photographing from the backseat of a T-28 Trojan. And lots more flying coming up on Veterans Day Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More info below…
At the Air Museum, flight demonstrations going on all day. You will see our P-51 Mustang ‘Bunny” in the air along with our C-47 “What’s Up Doc”? and our T-28 Trojan. There will be a special appearance by a flight of six T-34 trainers too. Even more exciting you can watch and even go up in a Stearman Biplane trainer AND even fly in a World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber, both from right here!
Not to be missed! With us will be a very very special guest… Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. A wonderful opportunity to meet and shake the hand of this true American Hero.
Also we are dedicating our newly finished Grumman F9F Panther which was the Navy’s first successful carrier based jet fighter. For that honor we will have with us another very special guest, a man who has been called “The Forgotten Hero”, Capt E. Royce Williams! On November 18th, 1952, then Lt. Williams in a carrier based engagement of the Korean War shot down four MiG-15s. Forty years later it was revealed that all four were flown by Soviet pilots.
There will be food and birthday cake celebrating the Museum’s 21st Anniversary. So much fun going on! You can reserve your flights on the Stearman Bi Plane trainer by calling us at 760-778-6262. For your seat on a flight in the B-25 Bomber call 805-377-2106 (please leave a message and you will be called right back). You can also fly on Sunday and next weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What a great opportunity! Thanks!
You Can Fly Too!
For all my friends who have said they are so envious of my flying in aircraft like this one…. Come on out! Info below…
At the Palm Springs Air Museum, your bombing mission is waiting for you! This Veterans Day weekend you can jump on board and take your flight in this World War II B-25 Mitchell Bomber! Put that on your bucket list at the very top!
Starting this Friday afternoon Nov 10th, Saturday afternoon Nov 11th and all day Sunday Nov 12th! The best First Class flight ticket you can buy for $425 for sure! This is a much better way to celebrate our Veterans and to participate in Thanking them for their service! Be a part of keeping these so very important and historical aircraft flying!
Too busy this weekend to fly with us.. Next weekend too! You can also fly on the afternoon Friday Nov 17th, and all day Saturday and Sunday Nov 18th and 19th. And November 18th is our Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival! So much fun going on! (Props & Hops is a separate admission, beer doesn’t fuel the airplanes!)
For more information and to reserve your flight, Call 805-377-2106. Leave a message and someone will call you right back. You can just come on in too but there are only six seats per flight and you might have to wait for the next available. But do not miss the incredible opportunity! Thank You!
I’m Flying!
Extra benefit of being the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum is flying! Yesterday in a World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber. The United States Marine Corps version PBJ, the only one still flying in the world. My duty station for the Memorial Day weekend, the Palm Springs Air Museum. Come on out!
She Takes Off!
As a long time photographer in the bodybuilding and fitness business, the first thing I noticed is that she works out. The World War II Bomber “Pacific Princess” visiting at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You can watch her take off again on this April 18th to commemorate the day of the “Raid On Tokyo” on April 18, 1943.
B-25 Sunday Morning
The World War II B-25 bomber “Pacific Princess” doing flight demonstrations at the Palm Springs Air Museum today.
Come on out to the Air Museum tomorrow morning, Sunday, opening extra early at 8:00 AM. The “Pacific Princess” will again take to the air at 8:48 to coincide when the carrier USS Hornet departed San Francisco carrying the B-25 aircraft that would make the raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942. Called the “Doolittle Raid”, it was the turning point in the War with Japan and also in the history of air power. Not to be missed! See you there! AND… Admission is free for this starting at 8:00AM until flight time!
B-25 Over Palm Springs
The World War II B-25 bomber, Pacific Princess arriving and flying over Palm Springs for the Palm Springs Air Museum. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the famed Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the Pacific Princess will fly again today Saturday April 1st and also on Sunday April 2 at 8:48 AM to mark the time that the B-25 bombers onboard the carrier USS Hornet left San Francisco on their mission in 1942. My pleasure here to photograph and fly yesterday on another historic aircraft.
Also at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday at 1:00 PM, “Hell’s Angels: True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group during World War II”. Pacific Princess will fly following the program.
“At the outbreak of World War Two, the United States was in no way prepared to wage war. Although the US declared war against Germany in December of 1941, the country lacked the manpower, the equipment, and the experience it needed to fight. Even had an invasion force been ready, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany’s industrial and military might were crippled. Because no invasion could happen without air superiority, the first target was the Luftwaffe – the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. To this end, the United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain’s already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group – “Hell’s Angels”. Presented by Jay Stout”
Last but not least, on Saturday morning between 10:30 – 12:30 you can take the seat in the cockpit of an AT-6 Texan, single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Force. You can have your photo taken too! All fun!
The Pacific Princess has an interesting motion picture career history. She was used in the classic film “Catch 22” and also “1941”. For the movie “Pearl Harbor” she took off from the deck of both the USS Lexington and the USS Constellation. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II she was flown off the carrier USS Carl Vinson.
B-25 Mitchell Bomber
The B-25 “Mitchell” was the bomber flown off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942 for a bombing mission over Tokyo. It was intended to show that the USA could project power across the oceans and that Japan was vulnerable to an air attack. The mission was also retaliation for the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
This is a B-25J version which entered service in early 1945. It was used as a crew trainer and transport. Interestingly it appears in the 1970 movie “Catch 22” as “Vestal Virgin”. Now here flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum on it’s tour schedule. The sound of those engines starting up is worth the visit all by itself!
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