Thank You Wednesday

We raised $5,920 this #GivingTuesday!

Thank you for supporting the only museum whose exhibits FLY! These planes are the foundation of our educational experiences and exhibits showcasing Texas aviation history and the endless possibilities in the STEM industries.

This #GivingTuesday, museum supporters gave to the plane that started it all…our B-25 bomber, Special Delivery! These funds will help maintain our planes and keep ’em flying! Thank you to the following #GivingTuesday donors.

During the 80th anniversary of the historic Doolittle Raid, LSFM is honored to be home to the official aircraft of the Doolittle Raiders Association. Museum founder, Robert L. Waltrip purchased this B-25 in 1984 as the first of his collection that would serve as the basis for the Lone Star Flight Museum. Known as Special Delivery for many years, the museum repainted the aircraft in 2007 in the colors of the Doolittle Raiders. It is the only flying B-25 painted in these colors and is the only civilian aircraft to feature the Doolittle Raider emblem.

You can still help maintain our planes….and the B-25 that started our collection!

• $25 – Honor the B-25 Bomber
• $40 – Give the B-25 a new spark! Help maintain this plane with new spark plugs, costing $40 each.
• $80 – Commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid.
• $100 – Contribute towards a new radio for the B-25!

About the Doolittle Raiders

On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 Mitchells under the command of Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle launched from the American aircraft carrier Hornet on a daring raid against mainland Japan. It was the first strike against the Japanese homeland since Pearl Harbor. The B-25 was the only American bomber that could take off from an aircraft carrier with the range to reach Japan. Japanese ships spotted the Hornet 200 miles from their intended launch point, forcing Doolittle to depart early. Knowing they may not have enough fuel to complete the mission, the Doolittle Raiders launched and were forced to either bail out or ditch along the coast. Only one aircraft made a safe landing in Russia, but the crew and the airplane were interned by the Russians. American morale soared as the Japanese were forced to pull back some of their resources. The change in Japanese tactics following the Doolittle Raid is believed to have led to the American victory at the Battle of Midway less than two months later.

Thirteen of the 80 Doolittle Raiders were from Texas, more than from any other state. Eleven were pilots, one was a navigator and one was an engineer/gunner. All but three survived the war. One pilot, Dean Hallmark, was captured following the raid and executed by Japanese forces. These brave Texans were inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.