Doolittle Raiders 75th Anniversary Celebration

Eleven World War II era B-25 medium bombers were gathered at the National Museum of the United States Air Force for a special commemorative ceremony. The occasion was the 75th Reunion of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. On April 18, 1945, 80 airmen carried the burden of an entire nation as they flew towards the Japanese Home Islands and struck the first blow after Pearl Harbor. They raised the morale of all the allies but more importantly, they forced the redeployment of Japanese forces from offensive to defensive positions to protect the homeland.

This set of goblets was presented to the Raiders by the City of Tuscon, who hosted the reunion in  1959. Also shown is a bottle of cognac, provided by the Hennessee company, from which the final two Raiders were to drink the final toast to their comrades. You can see more about the final toast here. In a private ceremony, a roll call is administered and Colonel Cole turned Sgt. Richard Thatcher's goblet upside down due to his passing last summer.

 

General David  L  Goldfein, Air Force Chief of Staff talks about how the legacy of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders is maintained at the Air Force Academy and how important their history is to the entire service. There are over 600,000 airmen in both the active and reserve services.

Dr Doug  Lantry, Historian for the museum, explains how the story of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders fits into the history of the United States Air Force.

 Cindy Cole Chal, daughter of Colonel Richard "Dick" Cole shares how she had to learn what her father did by listening to others before he began to talk about it with her. Colonel Cole also did some of the most dangerous flying of World War II flying the "Hump," in the Chinese-Burma-India Theatre before continuing to fly with the Air Commandos. Cindy did say that her father was pleased to hear that the B-21 bomber would be called a Raider, in honor of all of them.

Colonel Cole being escorted to his seat. The crowd rose as one when he was announced and remained standing until he was seated. Cole, along with all the Raiders, felt like they were only doing their job, and while they appreciate the recognition, they never felt they deserve to be called heroes.

The Patriot Guard Riders surrounded the section of Memorial Garden with American flags.

General Golfein and Colonel Cole share a moment at the ceremony. Cole, at 101 years of age, is the last surviving participant of the raid. All the Raiders received the Congressional Medal of Honor which is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. You can find our coverage here

Some of the B-25s during the first flyover. They came in waves and the throbbing of their engines filled the air. They are all privately owned by various individuals and museums across the country.

Here is the missing man formation just before the smoking B-25 pulls up into the sky.

The presentation of the colors by the honor guard.

Cadets from the Air Force Academy place the wreath. The academy used to be the repository for the goblets before they came home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Cadets from the History Department also served during the Final Toast ceremony.

Here are some highlights of the ceremony. You can hear the B-1 bombers but not see them.

But Carol got one of them through the trees. Unfortunately, the B-1s had to alter their flight path as they approached the Memorial Garden and nobody got them except through the trees. And the unrestricted power climb was aborted. The B-1s represent the 34th and 37th Bob Squadrons, which were two of the four Army Air Corps Squadrons from which B-25 aircrews were selected for the Doolittle Tokyo Raid.

The Museum Foundation also has a Living History Film Series, where they present films of interest, and include the subjects, authors, relatives, or fellow servicemen of the aviation subjects. This night's presentation of Doolittle's Raiders: A Final Toast, was introduced by Colonel (Ret) Richard "Dick" Cole himself. The purpose of the program is to provide continuation of the amazing legacies of flight, from one generation to another. You can find information about the entire series by going here

On May 18 they will present The Last Man on the Moon, with Commander (Ret) Fred Baldwin, friend and fellow aviator of Eugene "Gen" Cernan. June 22 will feature The Gift: Mr R. A. Hoover with Sean  D  Tucker, airshow pilot. More information can be obtained by calling 937-253-4629.

Scott And Carol Present - American Heroes Recognition

At this time 73 years ago, eighty brave members of the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders" were steaming towards Japan on a top secret mission aboard the USS Hornet. Their mission was to strike the first blow against the Japanese homeland. Like most plans during wartime, they adjusted on the fly by leaving early once they had been sighted, despite the extra miles it added onto their flight. Taking off in their B-25 land-based bombers, they achieved a surprise attack, causing the Imperial Navy to redeploy the Japanese warships, and providing a much needed boost to American morale after Pearl Harbor.

Today, at 3:00 PM EDT, leaders of the US House and Senate will present a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of heroism of these brave men and their service to their country during World War II. You can watch the ceremony  live at http://www.speaker.gov/live  Lt. General John "Jack" Hudson, Director of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, will accept the medal on their behalf.“ It is a tremendous privilege to be invited to accept the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders,” Hudson said. “The medal is a well-deserved honor for these amazing World War II heroes.

On Saturday, 4/18/2015, at 6:oo PM EDT, the 73rd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, Lt. Colonel Richard "Dick" E. Cole, Colonel Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot, will present the medal to the National Museum of the United States Air Force to be placed in the diorama showing a B-25 on the deck of the USS Hornet. The museum is the largest military aviation museum in the world, for it is entrusted with the keeping of the stories of countless American flying heroes. You can watch this ceremony LIVE, at  either www.af.mil/live.aspx or www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. Please joins for one or both events. A follow up story with more pictures will be posted next week.

Scott And Carol Present - A Veterans Day Tribute

“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers,” said President John F Kennedy, in 1963. Veterans Day is a time to remember, and honor all veterans of either sex, but we are focusing on the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders of World War II.  Even though we cannot feature all all branches of service, we must still remember their sacrifice for all of us.

A little over four months after the sneak attack of Pearl Harbor, sixteen B-25s, with five crewman each, were sitting on the deck of the USS hornet. While still 600 miles from Japan, the task force was discovered by Japanese forces and the decision was made to launch the aircraft 200 miles farther away than scheduled, due to the radio warnings sent by the picket boats. This handpicked group of eighty men would carry out the first strike on the Japanese homeland during World War II. They knew they didn’t have enough fuel to reach their planned landing sites in China but still they went. Into the heart of the Japanese homeland flew the brave eighty. Their courage raised American morale both home and abroad, for it would be over two years later before American bombers returned to Japan.

The Doolittle Toykyo Raiders had their 70th reunion in Dayton on April 18, 2012. All these B-25s attended the proceedings and participated in the flyover.



Here is a picture of the missing man flyover during the memorial  wreath laying ceremony on April 18, 2012.

Recently Scott had the opportunity to fly aboard a B-25 named Georgie’s Gal at the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow. Operated by the Liberty Avation Museum in Port Clinton, it allows present and future generations to see, hear, touch, and fly aboard one of these legendary aircraft. Scott recounts, “As we set on the end of the runway revving up the engines, the pilots going through their checklists, I wondered how those brave men felt. The plane vibrates with anticipation, and it seems like forever before it starts rolling. When the bouncing stops you see the runway fall away, and there is the mechanical sounds of the landing gear being retracked. My thoughts wandered to what they were thinking about, leaving 200 miles farther away than planned and knowing how much more difficult it would be to complete the mission under those circumstances.”


The Georgie’s Gal never flew in combat overseas; instead she flew training, patrol, and public relations missions stateside. And now she is the one of the keepers of their stories, ensuring that their bravery will not be forgotten.

The survivors began a tradition of having an annual reunion in April of 1946. General Jimmy Doolittle paid for the first reunion out of his own pocket, but he told them they could pay their own way when it was suggested to make this an annual event. The last Doolittle Raider reunion was held earlier this year in Fort Walton Beach, FL. . The four remaining Raiders decided that there are too few of them to continue the gatherings. The mission has come full circle, for their last reunion was close to Eglin Field, where they conducted their secret training for the mission.

An estimated 5,000 citizens lined the entrance to the National Museum of the United States Air Force to welcome the Doolittle Tokoyo Raiders for the final time. In 1959, thirteen years after the started their gatherings, the city of Tucson, AZ presented the group with a set of silver goblets, each bearing the name of one of the eighty men who flew the mission. During the every gathering, the survivors drink a toast to the Raiders who have passed since the last gathering, and then they turn the goblets with their names of the newly deceased upside down.

The case with the goblets has been on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force for many years and every year it is transported to the Raiders Reunion. In the case is a very special bottle of 1896 Hennessy Very Special Cognac, from the year Jimmy Doolittle was born. The Hennessy Company only recently found out about the special bottle and received permission to make a replica for display purposes. Georgie’s Girl has participated in many of the reunions, both as a flying museum, in the flyover, and several times she carried the goblets to the reunion

 The ongoing plan for many years has been for the last two survivors to open that special bottle and drink a final toast to their comrades in arms. As the years have sped by only three of the Raider are still well enough to travel, since they are all in their 90’s, so Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" E. Cole, Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, and Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher had their final toast last Saturday back in Dayton, because they wanted to ensure that it is done properly as a last salute to their fellow crewmen, while they still can. After the final roll call, they opened that special bottle, filled the final three goblets, and had a final toast to those who are gone. Robert  L  Hite participated through a special internet connection at his residence.

You can view  The Final Toast here.

So let us all remember all the veterans, whether we know them personally or not. They made their sacrifices without knowing us, but through knowing what they stood for in their efforts. And maybe, if we can, we can remember them and their families on more than just this day.

A heartfelt thank you to all the men and women who protect our way of life, whether on land, sea, and air. We owe you and your families far more than we can ever repay.