Chance of Ted Lawson's B-25 Ruptured Duck Remaining

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:00 am

There was a group that went out to track down the remains of the Doolittle B-25's. They found several pieces of them, and even found airplane #3 right where it came to rest after the mission. There is a chance that the Ruptured Duck is still around. The plane was moved from the water to mainland China during the war. Anyone ever see or hear anything beyond this? I think I had heard that the Japanese took the piece of sheet metal that had the nose art on it, and displayed it in a museum.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

What was left of #3?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:38 pm

I am not sure. I am in the process of trying to find out. But there is some pieces left of it.

Ken · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:29 pm

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:43 pm

I now own a piece of metal from the Ruptured Duck. I talked to Ellen lawson, and she siad that Ted told her, after they ditched, they tried to destroy the airplane, but had nothing to do it with. They also were wounded. it was in shallow water, with the tails sticking out, just like in the movie. It was moved to mainland China, and the nose art was collected by the Japanese and placed in a museum. After that I really don't know. I will do some research again.

PbyCat-Guy · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:25 pm

I heard a long time ago (can't remember when) that one of the B-25s on that mission, was supposed to be returned to the US for restoration. Maybe I was just dreaming. I think it was one of the ones that landed in the USSR (if it ever happened). Very highly likely that these statements are not fact.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:34 pm

PbyCat-Guy wrote:

I heard a long time ago (can't remember when) that one of the B-25s on that mission, was supposed to be returned to the US for restoration. Maybe I was just dreaming. I think it was one of the ones that landed in the USSR (if it ever happened). Very highly likely that these statements are not fact.

One DID land in the USSR, and was probably scrapped in the '50s. Have not heard anything about an aircraft returning to the US for restoration.

Ryan

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:59 pm

As far as the original question goes, I'd say virtually none. It may be that some significant pieces have survived, but I doubt it. I've often wondered about the end of the B-25 that the Japanese reportedly took back to Tokyo, or someplace in Japan. I wonder if it was eventually scrapped, or toasted in a firebombing raid, etc... Also one would think that there might still be some surviving photos of it on display, if the reports of it being displayed are true.

Ryan

west-front · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:11 am

Photo of B-25 #40-2242 in Russia

http://www.airforce.ru/history/ww2/phot ... age_11.htm

Quote:

WWII veteran's artwork lives on at museum

Hal Olsen touches up the paint on a B-25 Mitchell Bomber April 19 at the Pacific Aviation Museum in Hawaii. In honor of the 65th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo, Mr. Olsen was recreating one of his original nose art pieces, for the B-25 flown by Lt. Ted Lawson, one of the pilots involved in the raid. The piece called "The Ruptured Duck" is a symbol held in high esteem by World War II servicemembers. (U.S. Army photo/Army Sgt. Catherine Talento)

Ken · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:02 am

I'm puzzled - expeditions find a piece of Doolittle's airplane, the #3, and #7 airplanes (one of the most famous) - so where are the pictures, documentaries, news flashes, etc? Seems like the location of even one crash site would, in the aviation community, be BIG news. I'm not saying it didn't happen - but something just doesn't seem right. Internet searches only turn up an artist named Bryan Moon who led/organized the expedition and who now sells plaques with small bits of the airplanes but no details.

There are posters on this site who can tell you the exact coordinates of a static T-33 but there are no details on the Doolittle birds? Please tell me there is more to the story ....

Django · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 4:25 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I now own a piece of metal from the Ruptured Duck.

Do tell!

Pics?

Hal Olsen didn't paint the original Ruptured Duck nose art, as that quote implies...

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:24 pm

RyanShort1 wrote:

PbyCat-Guy wrote:

I heard a long time ago (can't remember when) that one of the B-25s on that mission, was supposed to be returned to the US for restoration. Maybe I was just dreaming. I think it was one of the ones that landed in the USSR (if it ever happened). Very highly likely that these statements are not fact.

One DID land in the USSR, and was probably scrapped in the '50s. Have not heard anything about an aircraft returning to the US for restoration.

Ryan

I had read that someone found KGB documents that the airplane was lost in a hangar fire in the 50's.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:12 pm

Django wrote:

mustangdriver wrote:

I now own a piece of metal from the Ruptured Duck.

Do tell!

Pics?

Hal Olsen didn't paint the original Ruptured Duck nose art, as that quote implies...

I did an interview with Ellen Lawson, and I told her what a fan I am of the Ruptured Duck, and both her and Ted. She gave me all kinds of stuff on the duck including the name of that guy selling the pieces. It sounded like she went on the excursion as well to find some of the planes. I talked to him, and I did purchase a piece of the Duck. It comes with a booklet aout the journey, including photos of the wrecks. Pretty cool stuff. I will try to get some pics up.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:39 pm

N3Njeff wrote:

I had read that someone found KGB documents that the airplane was lost in a hangar fire in the 50's.

I've heard I think about three different theories on it's end. Could be any one of them, but I know that there are folks in Russia who are interested and have done some digging. I suspect that if it still existed, they would eventually track it down. BTW, I was in contact with the folks who found that photo and from what I could tell from translations, it seemed that the picture itself came from a KGB file.

Ryan

wacoykc · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:49 pm

My father was classmates with about 6 of the Doolittle Raiders at Kelly Field in 1941. I have the class photo (which is about 3 ft x 1ft) hanging in our upstairs hallway. I remember 3 of the names...Richard Knobloch, Jack Simms and Dick Cole. We just spoke to Dick Cole last week about my father and his remembrances of him. I was also just given a painting that is of Tom Griffin's B-25 from the cockpit looking forward out the HORNET's deck with another B-25 lifting off. All the instruments are reading exactly what they should be at takeoff power! Pretty neat! I also was privvy to a cocktail party at Wright-Patterson when the Doolittle Raiders came to donate their cups to the Museum. There were 8 Raiders present as well as a Chinese gentleman who had helped one of the crews escape. There were only maybe 40 people at this event and I got to speak with each of them at length and had all of them sign a B-25 print for me. The best part was when I went to introduce myself to Dick Cole. I took my fathers graduation notice as well as his Air Corps ID. I handed Dick the graduation announcement and he asked "where the hell did you get this?" I then handed him my fathers ID and a smile came over his face and he exclaimed "Eddie Heins....what a great guy!" It actually brought a tear to my eye! That was truly the ice-breaker and we had a great chat!

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Chance of Ted Lawson's B-25 Ruptured Duck Remaining

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