‘Destination Tokyo’: A Doolittle Raider B-25’s Emotional Restoration

Ron Kaplan’s personal connection to WWII aviation culminates in a heartfelt tribute to his father and the legendary aviators.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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Meg Godlewski

Ron Kaplan applied his skill and paint to the nose of a restored B-25 in honor of the famous Doolittle Raiders of World War II. [Courtesy: Rob Kaplan]

Key Takeaways:

Aviation artist Ron Kaplan, founder of the Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame, recently completed a significant commissioned work.
He hand-painted the federally trademarked Doolittle Raider crest and the name "Destination Tokyo" onto a newly restored B-25D Mitchell bomber for Swiss owner Hugo Mathis.
The project held deep personal meaning for Kaplan, as his father was a B-25 pilot, and he has a longstanding history of honoring the Doolittle Raiders through his aviation art.

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When Ron Kaplan was a boy, his fifth-grade teacher admonished him for drawing pictures of Eddie Rickenbacker’s SPAD in his math workbook instead of doing his lessons.

Fortunately, this did not diminish Kaplan’s interest in aviation or the graphic arts. For decades he has owned Warbird Aviation Art and been turning out images tied to World War II—especially those that honor the B-25 Mitchell and Doolittle Raiders.