• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
General Aviation News

General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

  • Pictures of the Day
    • Submit Picture of the Day
  • Stories
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Products
    • NTSB Accidents
    • ASRS Reports
  • Comments
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
  • Events
  • Digital Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Warbird Roundup features SBD Dauntless, B-25 Mitchell

By General Aviation News Staff · September 4, 2016 ·

By Frederick A. Johnsen

Two venerated heroes of World War II — the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber and the North American Aviation B-25 Mitchell bomber — were honored during the 2016 Warbird Roundup at Nampa, Idaho, Aug. 27-28.

Hosted by Warhawk Air Museum at its growing site on the Nampa airport, the sixth annual Warbird Roundup has established a reputation for rare warbirds showcased in a laid-back Idaho summer atmosphere.

The roar of two R-1820 engines on takeoff sent distant birds scattering far behind the FM-2 Wildcat, left, and SBD Dauntless taking off during Warbird Roundup at Nampa, Idaho on August 28, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
The roar of two R-1820 engines on takeoff sent distant birds scattering far behind the FM-2 Wildcat, left, and SBD Dauntless taking off during Warbird Roundup at Nampa, Idaho on August 28, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)

The Dauntless and Mitchell gained their greatest fame nearly 75 years ago. In April 1942, Jimmy Doolittle and his select group of B-25 crews launched a startling raid on Tokyo from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. This boosted morale at a critical time in the United States, while giving the Japanese military cause for concern over the vulnerability of their island nation to aerial bombardment.

Two months later, in June 1942, Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber crews were the unquestioned victors in the Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers and resetting the course of the Pacific war in the process.

A rare SBD flew twice daily during the weekend event, as did the B-25. Both bombers came to Nampa from the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, Calif.

Smoke from the start-up of the B-25 drifted aft over Mustangs, Warhawks, and an FM-2 Wildcat at Warbird Roundup in Nampa, Idaho on Aug. 27, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
Smoke from the start-up of the B-25 drifted aft over Mustangs, Warhawks, and an FM-2 Wildcat at Warbird Roundup in Nampa, Idaho on Aug. 27, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)

Additionally, Warhawk Air Museum flew its pair of P-40 Warhawk fighters and its razorback P-51C Mustang during the weekend.

Warhawk Air Museum's TP-40N nicknamed Parrot Head settled in for landing at Nampa following its morning workout with other Second World War fighters during Warbird Roundup 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
Warhawk Air Museum’s TP-40N nicknamed Parrot Head settled in for landing at Nampa following its morning workout with other Second World War fighters during Warbird Roundup 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)

The affiliation between Warhawk Air Museum and the Planes of Fame Museum leads to out-of-town aircraft displays by both museums on the home field of the other collection. During Warbird Roundup 2016, a missing-man formation honored Planes of Fame founder Edward T. Maloney who died only days before the Nampa event.

B-25 crew chief Kelly Hughes carefully administered a fresh ration of oil for the Planes of Fame B-25J bomber during Warbird Roundup in Nampa, Idaho on August 28, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
B-25 crew chief Kelly Hughes carefully administered a fresh ration of oil for the Planes of Fame B-25J bomber during Warbird Roundup in Nampa, Idaho on August 28, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)

Other visiting warbirds included a pair of Mustangs, an FM-2 Wildcat, three variants of the Texan trainer, a yellow N3N primary biplane and a Vietnam-era O-1 Bird Dog.

Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, granddaughter of Jimmy Doolittle, was guest speaker during a mid-day break in the flying activities, affording show attendees a personal glimpse into the life and personality of her famous grandfather.

Local World War II Marine veteran John Joseph McCarthy was honored in a ceremony in the museum during Saturday’s show. Idaho governor Butch Otter’s office gave the veteran a proclamation citing Aug. 27 as John Joseph McCarthy Day.

The spacious hangar doors on the Warhawk Air Museum complex were opened to give Warbird Roundup attendees the option of sitting in the shade when not perusing the ramp filled with a variety of warbirds. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
Art and engineering merge in the form of the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber displayed at Warbird Roundup 2016. Perforated dive flaps gave the Dauntless a steady, slow, steep descent in the final moments before bomb release. Painted bright red, the dive flaps served a warning to aircraft behind the Dauntless that the bomber was slowing down when they were deployed. The bottom sections are also used as landing flaps. Wide open gunner’s cockpit behind pilot mounted a pair of .30-caliber machine guns to dissuade attackers. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
There are teeth behind that whirling propeller, giving the Curtiss Kittyhawk fighter of Warhawk Air Museum a snarling presence during Warbird Roundup 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
A U.S. Navy N3N biplane primary trainer hands off flying duties to a Navy SNJ Texan waiting its turn to take off at Nampa, Idaho during Warbird Roundup on Aug. 28, 2016. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)
The farming country around Nampa, Idaho, reverberated under the insistant roar of Merlin engines powering P-51 Mustangs during Warbird Roundup. “Speedball Alice”, nearest camera, is backed by “Lady Jo”. Warbird owners from around the west brought their machines to the Warhawk Air Museum to fly in the annual show. (Photo by Frederick A. Johnsen)

Warhawk Air Museum recently announced plans to expand its facility to include coverage of recent American combat actions like Desert Storm and other activities in that region. A fundraising campaign will launch in September to raise $1 million for the addition.

The museum’s founders, John and Sue Paul, have worked with their staff and volunteers to cultivate a positive impact on the Nampa-Boise area. School tours and events honoring veterans are part of the success story. This year, the nearby Ridgevue High School opened its doors to students whose sports teams are known as the Warhawks, a nod to the impact of the Warhawk Air Museum.

Reader Interactions

Share this story

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

Become better informed pilot.

Join 110,000 readers each month and get the latest news and entertainment from the world of general aviation direct to your inbox, daily.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Curious to know what fellow pilots think on random stories on the General Aviation News website? Click on our Recent Comments page to find out. Read our Comment Policy here.

Comments

  1. Sam says

    September 4, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    It is neat to see this museum continue to grow!

© 2025 Flyer Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Photographer’s Guidelines