WWII B-25 Flight
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Robin Scholz
Photo Editor
Aboard a WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber - The Berlin Express - from Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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WWII B-24 pilot George Hawthorne,100, Sidney, brought some of his photos to share before a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Hawthorne also went on the flight with his son Kirk.
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The nosecone and guns on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Part of the crew applauds before a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Joey Wright, center, gets ready for takeoff with other media during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A view of Tolono, looking east, during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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WWII B-24 pilot George Hawthorne,100, Sidney, holds onto a bar as he sits behind the pilot during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Champaign Central's McKinley Field is centered in the photo during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The Pavillion is on the lower right during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Champaign Central High School, lower left, and the Pavillion, center right, during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A view of railroad cars in Champaign during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A view during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The crew waits for passengers during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The steps to get on the back portion of The Berlin Express are the same ones that Orson Wells came down as General Dreedle in the 1970 movie Catch 22. Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A employee sits in the back of the plane during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Joey Wright during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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Original equipment near the wings during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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A dogleg from a gunner who died on a flight of a B-25 hangs over his position during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The view up the front hatchway to the planeduring a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The cockpit during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The passageway to the nosecone during a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
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The nosecone from the outsideduring a media flight on a B-25 Mitchell bomber, The Berlin Express, at Willard Airport in Savoy on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
As featured on
Nicknamed “Berlin Express,” the aircraft was part of the Pacific theater during the war and was used for two scenes in the 1970 film “Catch-22.”