DAYTON, Ohio – On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.
The raid was an extremely important event in the development of American air power. It marked the first combat use of strategic bombardment by the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. While the attack itself caused little actual damage to Japanese war industry, the psychological impact on the Japanese military and the American public proved to be immense. It forced the Japanese military to pull forces back from the front lines to protect the home islands and showed Americans that the war could be won.
Today, just one of the men survive: Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, who served as Doolittle’s co-pilot on Crew No. 1. Cole, now 101 years old, plans to return to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in April to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the raid and to pay tribute to fellow Raider SSgt. David Thatcher, who passed away earlier this year.
“Mathematically, it shouldn’t have worked out this way,” Cole told The Missoulian last June. “I was quite a bit older, six years older, than David. Figuring the way gamblers figure, he would have been the last man.”
Anniversary events on April 17-18 are still being finalized, but plans include the return of several B-25 Mitchell bombers landing on the runway behind the museum and being placed on static display, a memorial service and B-25 flyover (weather permitting).
The Air Force Museum Theatre is planning a living history event with films on the Doolittle Raid and the Air Force Museum Store will have commemorative merchandise available to purchase.
Each year since the end of World War II, with the exception of 1951, the Doolittle Raiders held an annual reunion. The museum had the privilege of hosting the Raiders in April 1965 (23rd), 1999 (57th), 2006 (64th), 2010 (68th) and 2012 (70th), before having their final toast to their fallen comrades on Nov. 9, 2013.
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about 1 million visitors from around the world come to the museum.
Any body Remember the Doolittle Raid Re-enactment on board The U.S.S RANGER. (CV-BY GOD 61) I I think it was in April 92 not a hundred percent sure but I think so
.I was a AMS-1 tad. to the Master at Arms Force . at the time and I remember spending a pleasant few minutes speaking to Astronaut Wallly Scharia and my first Admiral from the USS Independence, Admiral Hauser up in Flight Deck medical during the proceedings . It was a fun day and historical time for all. Since they flew over Jimmy Doolittle’s house as a tribute since he was not physically able to be on the Ship at that time , They should have done it again on another ship..It is a fitting tribute
Dear Mr. Paradise,
My name is Dave Sigward and I was living in Monterey California in April 1992 and witnessed the re-enactment flight from my office as it flew down the Highway 68 corridor enroute to General Doolittle’s home. My vivid recollection of this event, which took place nearly 25 years ago, was that it took place in the early evening and consisted of a flight of four B-25s and six P-51s. Being involved in aviation, with particular interest in aircraft from the 1930s and 1940s – as my Dad has flown several of these aircraft including the B-25 while in the USAAF – it was a great moment to see the formation fly by at low altitude. I had heard at the time the B-25s were launched from the deck of a carrier, for only the second time in history, but did not know until now which carrier was involved. During a brief stint working as a contractor as NAS North Island circa 1988 I would drive past the USS Ranger when she was in port, so I have also seen this great ship as well. Best regards.
My name is Ronald Smith. We have tried several times to get information to you about our full color mural traveling wall that shows this country’s history from 1775 to present day. Please visit our web site, http://www.spiritofamericasstory.com for more information about us and use the menu button to find our link to our Facebook page where you can view pictures and videos. We saw the article about the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raiders and were hoping you would be interested in bring our traveling wall in for this Honorable Event. Please contact me through our e-mail so I can explain more to you about our unique wall.