Apr 11 2019
Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” E. Cole, Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot and last surviving member of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo on 18 April 1942, passed away on 9 April 2019. Born in 1915, he enlisted as aviation cadet in 1940. He was one of the 80 crew members selected to take part in the famous raid …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/04/11/lt-col-richard-dick-cole-last-surviving-member-of-the-doolittle-raid-has-passed-away/
Jun 23 2016
David J. Thatcher, one of the two remaining survivors of the famous Doolittle Raid, passed away on June 22, 2016 in Missoula, Montana. “Dick” Cole, a close friend of Thatcher, is now the sole surviving member of the group of 80 men who attacked Japan on 18 April 1942. Although such honours are rarely accorded …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2016/06/23/two-aviation-legends-pass-away-david-thatcher-and-punchy-powell/
Apr 02 2015
Retired Lt. Col. Robert Hite, one of the last surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, died at his home in Nashville, Tenn., on March 29, aged 95. Hite was the co-pilot on plane #16, dubbed “Bat Out of Hell,” during the April 18, 1942 mission to bomb Japan. Hite was captured by the Japanese in China following …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/04/02/lt-col-robert-hite-%e2%9c%9d/
Jan 29 2015
Edward J. Saylor, the engineer of the 15th aircrew that participated in the famous 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan, passed away at his home on January 28, 2015. His crew bombed targets in Kobe and had to ditch its aircraft near the Chinese coast after the raid. Saylor stayed with the Air Force …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/01/29/doolittle-raid-veteran-edwards-j-saylor-passes-away/
Apr 23 2013
Three of the four surviving members of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo gathered from April 17 to 21 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for a final meeting. The members who were present were Lt. Col. Richard Cole, le Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher. Lt. Col. Robert …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/04/23/doolittle-raiders-gather-for-final-meeting/
Mar 05 2013
Thomas Griffin, who was the navigator on the ninth aircraft of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle raid on Tokyo , died on February 26 aged 96. With the passing of Thomas Griffin, there are now only four surviving members of this legendary mission. Its success was mostly psychologival, as America needed some positive news in …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/03/05/thomas-griffin-%e2%80%a0/
Jul 28 2011
The five remaining members of the Doolittle raid will be present at the National Museum of the USAF to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the raid from April 17 to 20, 2012. Also present for the first time will be Chinese survivors or members of their families who helped save the Raiders. The Doolittle Tokyo …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/28/doolittle-raid-25-b-25-mitchell-hoped-for-70th-anniversary/
Recent Comments