WIX Archives
Doolittle B-25... earlier discussions revisited..
Posted by Dave on Sat Feb 14, 2004 05:18:52 AM
In reply top Monino B-25 ..Here is the info posted by Dave on Sat Feb 14, 2004 01:40:24 AM
Ok , here is a rather jumbled collection of emails on the subject from Russia , which I posted where appropriate during the last discussions on this last year.....
Dave
"The Doolittle Raiders B-25s was landing at airfield near Vladivostok and
many years was at service there. But now will be possible only found small
wrecks from this airplane. Petropavlovsk at 3000 km to North from
Vladivostok and there was not the Doolittle Raiders B-25. There was only
B-25 from Aleutans islands which bombing Japanese at Kuril..
All Stalins hangars with "the B-25 and a number of other US aircraft" have
burned down many years ago
Yes I know too that a Russian / American group looking for the B-25. And I
read the book Valter Kurilchek who is the member of this group. He is more
than 70 years old and seems that he is only one in this group. Another
members is Mr.Akimchuk from Arsenyev near Vladivostok and Mr.Salnikov from
Moscow. About five years ago they prepare the expedition near Vladivostok
for found the B-25. It was unsuccessfull expedition because they found only
place where this B-25 was based at 1950s. Now there only small wrecks from
this airplane.
Mr.Kurilchyk - those group not found any B-25 - only small
unidentified wrecks
After visit at Russia he write the book about search at Russia Doolittle Raiders B-25.
Seems that any photos of the "three B-25s" is not present. In this area a
lot of wrecks from B-25 that was crash at war and afterwar time and I am not
sure if Mr.Kurilchyk make any photos.
I know exactly that some small parts from Doolittle plane was found at
Novorossia airfield some time ago. Old airplane mechanic confirm that it was
parts from "American bomber which landing with American crew at 1942".
Another confirmation was not present.
My personal opinion (and it is confirm by documents from archive) that
Doolittle's B-25 was used at Russian Far East Air Command and at 1950
airplane was destroyed because its resources was ended.
I agree that war veteran B-25 airframes still extant in the Vladivostok area, but formal identification has not been possible. So can we "nominate" one from those B-25 as Doolittle plane
I am sure that airplane was scrapped at 1950 at Novorossia airfield - so no way for found original Doolitlle raiders B-25 from a wood or lake or etc."