Fine Art Portfolio | B-25 Champaign Gal The B-25 Champaign Gal was taxiing for takeoff at Grimes Field in Urbana, OH before the 70th Doolittle Raider Reunion. Twenty B-25 aircraft attended the reunion the next day on 17 Apr 2013. Champaign Gal is based at Grimes Field as part of the Champaign Air Museum. Still, similar images could have easily been taken at numerous airfields around the world in 1942. The image in black & while seems more realistic for a WWII image.
The Real Story On 18 Apr 1942, sixteen brave flight crews took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in B-25 bombers to strike the Japanese mainland in a daring mission early in WWII. Of the 80 men on the mission, five still remained with us to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their successful mission. This reunion remembers them and all the brave WWII air crews who fought and sometimes died to keep us a free nation. For a first hand account of B-25 activities at the 70th Doolittle Raider reunion: B-25s at the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion. To see the nose art of all the B-25s at the reunion: B-25 Nose Art at the 70th Doolittle Raiders Reunion.
The Back Story Luckily, for this event, I was able to get a media pass so I could get out to the end of the taxiway for possibly a better shot. After capturing hundreds of images, this image is one of my favorites.
Details…
| Event | 70th Doolittle Anniversary |
| Location | Grimes Field at Urbana OH |
| Date/Time | 4/16/2012 12:48 am Local Time |
| Weather | Partly Cloudy / Windy | 70°F | Moderate to High Southwest Winds |
| Method | Take tram to media area at end of taxiway, wait for B-25s to taxi out for takeoff, reposition, clicks. |
| Gear | Nikon D3x with a 70-200mm lens |
