Executive Sweet takes flight during open house

by Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

11/12/2014 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Nellis hosted an open house Nov. 8 and 9, which celebrated the 21st century Air Force and it's accomplishments in air, space and cyberspace. During this celebration, several military aerial demonstration teams, including the American Aeronautical Foundation with their B-25J Mitchell, participated.

The Mitchell and her crew participated as part of the Legacy Bombers act, who performed a World War II reenactment. The AAF was founded in an effort to preserve the aviation legacy of which WWII veterans and aircraft have created.

"We all do this collectively as a group so that the younger generations can see it," said John Garlinger , volunteer crewman for the B-25J. "It is a tribute to [veterans]."

The North American B-25J was built in Missouri from 1944 to 1945. The B-25J that performed at the Nellis Open House, dubbed "Executive Sweet," saw extensive service throughout World War II as a crew trainer.

The B-25 Mitchell first gained fame as a bomber used in the Doolittle Raid, in which 15 Mitchells bombed targets in Kobe, Yokohama, Nagoya, as well as Tokyo in 1942.

In 1948 the aircraft was converted into a U.S. Air Force VB-25J aircraft and was used as a VIP transport until the end of it service in 1959.

"This is something to showcase," said Garlinger. "To show people how far we have come and to show them what their veterans flew."

Accord to the AAF, the Executive Sweet is equipped with thirteen .50 caliber machine guns, a Norden bombsight, operable bomb bay, authentic insignia and interior detailing down to crash axes and a crew intercom system.

"It's fun. This is still a hands-on thing. There are no computer chips. It's all gas, oil and metal," said Jamie Toombs, volunteer crewman for the B-25J. "This is all about the motors and some guy with a good eye putting a bomb on a target."

The Executive Sweet has been seen by millions of aviation fans at air shows, fly-ins and private aviation events for more than four decades to preserve the legacy previous generations created.

"The biggest reason we do this is to remember the previous generation. To remember the people that gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Toombs. "This is a living, breathing piece of history, which brings history alive, so by using this airplane we can tell the veterans' stories and hopefully bring greater awareness to the cost of freedom for our veterans."