Gulf Coast Wing - "Tora! Tora! Tora!" Group

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" Group

The Tora, Tora, Tora group has been split from the Gulf coast wing, however the B-17G "Texas Raiders" will still participate in the Tora act as requested by each show. Tora recreates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that signaled the beginning of the American involvement in World War II at airshows. Designed as a living history lesson, "Tora, Tora, Tora" is intended as a memorial to all the soldiers on both sides who gave their lives for their countries.

Tora, Tora, Tora began in 1972, when six T-6 Texan training aircraft were modified to replicate Japanese aircraft for use in the movie of the same name. After filming, they were donated to the CAF. The Gulf Coast Wing requested assignment of the aircraft and at once began developing an act for presentation at air shows. The act debuted at the Galveston Air Show on June 25, 1972. By 1977, Tora had gained national exposure, and by 1978, Tora began to make international appearances in Canada and Mexico. In 1991 Tora participated extensively in the 50th anniversary year commemorations of the Pearl Harbor attack. Throughout the 90s, Tora was in heavy demand at air shows throughout the country, and as recently as the Spring of 2000, Tora aircraft and pilots participated in the filming of a new movie release by Disney called Pearl Harbor, which focused on that attack. As of the 2007 air show season, the men and women of Tora have been performing as a professional air show act for over 35 years.

Besides the Japanese Zeros, Kates, and Vals, the act has also included U.S. fighters to represent the handful of American pilots who were able to scramble against the attackers. The CAF's B-17G "Texas Raiders" has also flown in the Tora act, to represent the B-17s that were en route to Pearl from the mainland and arrived during the attack.