“Paper Doll”

The North American B-25 Mitchell was a versatile American twin-engine medium bomber produced by North American Aviation during World War II. Named after General Billy Mitchell, a prominent figure in U.S. military aviation, the B-25 saw extensive use across all theaters of the war and remained in service with various air forces post-war, spanning over four decades. With close to 10,000 units built across numerous models, the B-25 played a significant role in wartime operations. North American Aviation emerged as the leading aircraft manufacturer during the war, pioneering the simultaneous production of trainers, bombers, and fighters. Producing a variety of aircraft including the AT-6/SNJ Texan, B-25 Mitchell, and the P-51 Mustang, the company's contribution to the war effort was substantial. The production of B-25s took place at the Inglewood main plant and a significant number at the Kansas City, Kansas plant located at Fairfax Airport.

The B-25, the Paper Doll, operated by Lt. J.W. Yerger with the 321st Bombardment Group, 447th Bombardment Squadron based in Solenzara, Corsica. Initially delivered in bare metal finish, the aircraft received OD camouflage on the upper surfaces in late May 1944, with the propeller hubs painted blue - the official color of the 447th BS. The Paper Doll completed a total of 125 combat missions during its operational history.

The B-25 Mitchell and The Doolittle Raid

The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was a pivotal air raid carried out by the United States on 18 April 1942, targeting the Japanese capital Tokyo and other locations on Honshu island during World War II. This mission marked the first air raid to hit the Japanese Home Islands and showcased Japan's vulnerability to American air attacks. Planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the raid was a direct response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Sixteen U.S. Army Air Forces B-25B Mitchell medium bombers took off without fighter escort from the USS Hornet, a United States Navy aircraft carrier positioned deep in the Western Pacific Ocean. Each bomber carried a crew of five men and was tasked with bombing military targets in Japan before heading towards China for landing, as landing a medium bomber on the USS Hornet was unfeasible. Out of the sixteen aircraft, fifteen successfully reached China while one landed in the Soviet Union. Despite losing all aircraft, the majority of the crew members survived, with only three fatalities. Notably, eight members were taken captive by the Japanese Army in China, leading to the execution of three individuals. The crew that landed in the Soviet Union faced internment for over a year after their B-25 was confiscated in Vladivostok. Subsequently, fourteen crews, except for one crewman, managed to return either to the United States or American forces, underlining the courageous and harrowing nature of the Doolittle Raid and its lasting impact on both American and Japanese morale during World War II.