ALTON – A World War II-era B-25 Mitchell bomber flown by pilots Mike Marino and Charlie Bramstedt passed over the Alton Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, 2026, marked what organizers said was the first time a B-25 had appeared over the event.
The flyover featured a North American B-25 Mitchell, a twin-engine American medium bomber produced during World War II and named after airpower pioneer Gen. Billy Mitchell. The aircraft served in every theater of the war and is known for its role in the 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo.
Steve Schwartz, spokesperson for the East End Improvement Association, a main sponsor of the parade, said the plane’s route was designed so both spectators and participants could see it.
“They flew south and north up Washington,” Schwartz said. “Then took a loop and flew perpendicular to Washington down College, not only people viewing the parade, seeing it should be in position by 10, and participants see it in the pit.”
Schwartz said the appearance came after organizers contacted the Commemorative Air Force wing in St. Charles, Mo., about participating.
“This is the first time it happened with a B-25,” he said. “We reached out to them about doing it.”
“It was really cool, we are really excited about having them,” Schwartz said.
Rob Jenner, unit leader of the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in St. Charles, Mo., said the organization’s mission is to preserve and share aircraft from the World War II era with the public.
“The Commemorative Air Force goals are to educate, inspire, and honor to collect one flying example of all the Allied planes in World War II,” Jenner said. “It has grown to over 180 airplanes at any time, 150 flying with 81 separate wings across the United States. It is not only fun with the flying but interacting with the public when getting the opportunity to interact with the Greatest Generation who ever served and their families.”
Jenner said one of the aircraft’s most recognizable features is its sound.
“First thing to notice is a sound very distinctive. You hear the airplane long before you see it,” Jenner said.
Jenner, who grew up in Ferguson, Mo., and started flying after joining the Air National Guard in 1974, said he has been involved with the Missouri Wing for seven years. He described it as an all-volunteer organization and said preserving the aircraft is an ongoing challenge.
“It is our challenge to maintain these airplanes and find parts, and this bomber will be 82 years old in December,” Jenner said. “We are just the custodians privileged to keep them flying and showing them to the public custodians of this history for now.”
Jenner said the public response to aircraft from that era remains strong.
“The Memorial Day Parade flyover – we love the flyover and airplanes of that era, have such a distinctive sound of World War II airplanes,” Jenner said.
On Monday, May 25, 2026, the B-25 was definitely heard throughout Alton as it traced the Memorial Day Parade route, to the joy of all those who attended and participated.
