‘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:

Ron Kaplan, an aviation artist and founder of the Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame, recently completed a commissioned work painting the Doolittle Raider crest and "Destination Tokyo" on a freshly restored B-25D Mitchell for Swiss owner Hugo Mathis.
Kaplan was specifically recommended for the job by the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association due to his extensive experience and expertise in authentically replicating their federally trademarked crest.
The project held deep personal significance for Kaplan, whose late father was a B-25 instructor pilot during WWII, creating a profound connection to the aircraft and its historical legacy.
The newly adorned B-25, *Destination Tokyo*, will be showcased at U.S. airshows, including EAA AirVenture, before its eventual relocation to Switzerland.

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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.