Story Created:
May 1, 2009 at 8:23 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 1, 2009 at 10:22 PM CDT
Meet “Panchito” a restored B-25 Mitchell. Today this former World War Two bomber is flying a new mission…one of preservation…and patriotism. The Disabled American Veterans has contracted with Pilot and Owner Larry Kelley to fly Panchito at airshows across the country and help educated veterans about the DAV.
Lynn May / DAV Flight Team
“Well the Disabled American Veterans runs their aviation outreach program to keep these birds in the air. It’s so important to keep the memories alive of the veterans who flew these planes back in World War II. We want to keep them in the air…they’re aren’t very many…that are still flying. And they are beautiful birds. The DAV is committed to veterans and committed to the memory of those guys that actually made all this happen during World War II in these planes.”
The real Panchito flew with 396th in the Central Pacific…but B-25’s saw action all throughout the war. But perhaps their most noted mission was their raid on Tokyo under the command Jimmy Doolittle. No matter the raid or the mission…we owe a great deal of gratitude to all our veterans.
Lynn May / DAV Flight Team
“One of the most heart warming things that we do in this program is we bring the plane in…it’s sitting there…we’ll see an old guy walk up to it…and just stand there and get real quite. And you’ll see a tear run down his face. And you know to be able to bring back those memories…of those guys…is just worth it all.”
And that’s this weeks Fox in Focus.
