B-25 Mitchell bomber Honor Flight lands in Leitchfield Sunday afternoon

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After a one-year delay, World War II veterans will have an opportunity to participate in an Honor Flight as part of a B-25 Mitchell Barnstorming Tour Across Kentucky.

On Sunday afternoon around 2:00, the North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber “Show Me” will touch down at the Leitchfield-Grayson County Airport. At least three local veterans will take part in an Honor Flight, sponsored by Honor Flight Bluegrass, after the pandemic led to the cancellation of last year’s event.

The barnstorming event begins Friday in Paducah before the historic aircraft travels to Somerset, Morehead and Frankfort prior to the tour culminating in Leitchfield Sunday afternoon.

The “Show Me” is stored in a hangar at the Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing near St. Charles, Missouri, and was built in 1944. The bomber sports 3,400 horsepower and held approximately 3,500 pounds of bombs of multiple denominations.

The B-25 Mitchell was introduced into the U.S. Air Force fleet in 1941 and was named in honor of Major General William Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation.

The B-25 Mitchell gained notoriety for the Doolittle Raid, aka the Tokyo Raid, in April 1942 when 16 of the aircraft took off un-escorted from an aircraft carrier in the western Pacific Ocean destined for Japan.

Everyone is invited to attend the event. The Leitchfield-Grayson County Airport is located at 695 Airport Road.

(Headline photo: The B-25 Mitchell “Show Me”)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com