Last Doolittle Raider passes

The epitome of bravery and patriotism. RIP LTC Richard Cole.

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20...NJ_3P9uE9-hdIU

Gear up for the final flight! Godspeed, LTC Richard Cole! May you have a mighty tailwind and no turbulence!

A different breed than today's little candy asp youth. A Doolittle Raider was an example of guts over glory. They were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. They went where few others were willing to go and they went there unarmed for the sole purpose of letting Japan know that we could get to them and they weren't untouchable. They proved a point and they rocked moral to a low point in Japan and set the stage for an even more important bomb run to come. God Bless the Doolittle Raiders and God Bless this last soul to reach the air base in the sky. Good flying LTC Richard Cole.

Rest well LTC Cole...

Just wondering if all the Raiders received the metals they had coming. My father-in-law passed in 1986 and received metals years after he had passed so he never got to see what he had coming to him. He flew the China Burma Hump. Known as Hump Pilots in the time. At any rate a lot of good men that did their duty without question and some without what was due them but none of them ever complained. Imagine that. Not like today's youth or the majority of today's youth I should say.

Asked what he remembered most about the mission? "My parachute opened" he said....

As we loose more and more of the brave soles from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and all the conflicts since, we are diminished by their passing. LTC Cole may the good Lord greet you and say job well done it is now time for you to rest.

my uncle Bud (Irwin Baker) flew against the japs over china not long after. i miss his pipe smoke and his wry sense of humor. he was a good man.

April 18, 1942. Be 77 years coming up. Always admired those guys. What guts! Remember watching 30 Seconds Over Tokyo as a kid.

Everyone of those guys were true hero's no doubt about it. People like that are few and far between these days.

:-( R.I.P Sir.You will be missed.
Leo

What was the Cognac they cherished.
I saw a documentary that they decided to toast it a bit early because they were so few remaining to cherish it.

Nickle on the grass. Here's to blue skies and tailwinds.

RIP Sir!