Septuagenarian Mike Pupich clearly recalls one of his greatest childhood thrills — seeing a B-25 Mitchell bomber, the historic World War II aircraft that many credit for turning the war in the Pacific around. 

	“Heavenly Body” a meticulously restored B-25 Mitchell bomber — the historic World War II aircraft that many credit for turning the war in America’s favor.

“I would have to say that, next to the birth of my children, the second moment that really stands out for me is flying off the deck off the USS Ranger in my restored B-25 bomber during the 50^th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid,” Pupich says. He pauses, and when he starts to speak again, you can hear his throat tighten as the poignant memory floods back to him. “It was truly the greatest thrill of my life.”

Pupich’s plane, dubbed “Heavenly Body”, restored to perfection through years of team work and painstaking attention to detail, is a proud testament to history — both of World War II and of aviation itself.

Hundreds of aviation wonders are expected to be on display — stylish homebuilts, classics from the 40's and 50's, exceptional vintage warbirds, and sport and ultralight aircraft. See a spectacular display including “Heavenly Body” — a historic B-25 Bomber from World War II, a Grumann F-7 Tigercat, P-51 Mustangs, Hawker Seafury British Fighter, P-40 “Flying Tiger”, T-6 and T-28 military trainers, YAK Russian fighters, Hiller Aviation Museum's vintage DC-3. Helicopter and bi-plane rides will be available for $50-$100.

Heavenly Body will be open for walk-through tours and flights during Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show on Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport.

Reeling from the 1941 devastation at Pearl Harbor and other losses in the Pacific, America was in desperate need of a hero in April 1942. It came in the form of the B-25 Mitchell bomber, a key player in Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle’s plan to attack Tokyo.

Many said the charismatic leader was crazy. While crafty fighter planes routinely departed from the short runway of aircraft carriers, the idea of a twin engine, fully loaded bomber doing the same was unheard of. But Doolittle was convinced it could be done — and that such a surprise attack could devastate the Imperial forces.

He was right.

On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers, each carrying a five-man crew, left the Hornet for a one-way sortie over Tokyo. After dropping bombs, the plan called for the pilots to fly on to the safety of airfields in China. None of the planes ever reached their final destination; eight airmen were captured and three were later executed. Damage to intended military targets was minimal.

Yet the raid was considered an overwhelming success; Doolittle’s courageous raiders — and their trusty B-25s — took the Japanese completely by surprise. Deeply enraged and humiliated, the Japanese high command then started toward some catastrophic military missteps. Among them was the Battle of Midway, in which the US triumphed masterfully. It proved to be a turning point in the war.

Although she rolled off the assembly line in 1944 and never saw action during the war, Heavenly Body nevertheless served admirably. Used stateside as a multi-engine advance trainer for pilots until 1958, she then spent a decade under the ownership of a private aviation firm. In 1969, she appeared in the movie, “Catch-22.”

“Yes,” acknowledges Pupich with a laugh, “our girl is a movie star.”

Pupich acquired Heavenly Body in 1972, and immediately set to work restoring the plane to her original glory. Working for years with a team of passionate volunteers, this flying ode to the stars and stripes routinely wows crowds at air shows across the nation.

“My team and I have worked hard to make this living museum available to the public,” Pupich says. “The B-25 is a very important part of the freedom we enjoy today — and that’s something that just shouldn’t be forgotten.”