Tyndall air force base an air force officer has been sentenced to 17 years in a military prison and dishonorably discharged for a sexual relationship he had with an underaged male in. All the intelligence from the era is declassified, go crack a book. Neither doolittle nor any of his men had flown a single combat mission. Remembering dick cole, who risked his life in wwii. Cole was honored by the community and guests as the only remaining military service member alive from the april 18, 1942, doolittle raid. Remembering dick cole, who risked his life in wwii doolittle raid. His wife, lucia martha harrell cole, who was known as marty, died in 2003.
Cole, 103, the last of the famed doolittle raiders, died at home in san antonio. But there may be a few things about that team that you dont know. Dick cole after one of his interviews with author laura. Fellow aviators should have this as required reading. Cole, copilot to jimmy doolittle during the doolittle raid, tours a u. Cole, lt col ret, the last surviving member of the famous doolittle raid writes in the book s foreword. Richard cole retired, the last surviving doolittle raider, visits with friends, family, and airmen during his 103rd birthday celebration sept. A secret bombing run over japan led by airmen like lt. Before retiring from the army after 21 years of service, he served as chief technology officer for a large acquisition program supporting the u. Richard coles most popular book is stairway to heaven. Richard cole, one of the doolittle raiders, and tech. Richard cole asked recently in a video announcing the raiders last reunion in fort walton beach this week, when they will, at last, share their bottle of 1896 hennessy.
Lieutenant colonel robert george cole march 19, 1915 september 18, 1944 was an american soldier who received the medal of honor for his actions in the days following the dday normandy invasion of world war ii. Lt col dick cole, last surviving doolittle raider, passes. The aircraft was similar to the aircraft he copiloted during the doolittle raid. Richard dick cole, the last surviving member of world war iis doolittle raiders, passed away tuesday in texas at the age of 103. Nov 11, 2012 and, at its controls was one of americas top aviators, lt. Air force to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the raid and to pay tribute to fellow raider ssgt. Dick cole after one of his interviews with author laura hillenbrand in september 2018. Commemoration of doolittle raid 75th anniversary at. Doolittle tokyo raid 75th anniversary national museum of. Richard dick cole, a surviving member of the 1942 raid on tokyo led by lt. Air force secretary deborah lee james with retired lt. I had a comrade stories about the bravery, comradeship, and. Cole, the last surviving member of the famed doolittle tokyo raiders, died at 103 in a hospital in san antonio, texas. Cole, who was jimmy doolittles copilot in the lead plane of a storied.
Cole, now 101 years old, returned to the national museum of the u. Jimmy doolittle during the surprise raid on tokyo on april 18, 1942, which was a response to japans attack on pearl harbor. Tokyo raid the 16 aircraft of the doolittle raiders, commanded by lt. Navy b25 mitchell displayed at an airshow in burnet, texas. Richard davis winters january 21, 1918 january 2, 2011 was an officer of the united states army and a decorated war veteran. Colonel richard cole and the doolittle raiders pbs. This is a worthy enterprise to support, but the main speaker at the fundraising dinner event will be the last surviving member of the doolittle tokyo raiders, lt. Lt col richard cole ret is the last surviving member of the 80 man team known as the doolittle raiders. Dec 26, 2016 the book dick coles war follows the true exploits of lieutenant colonel richard dick cole usaf ret. Richard dick cole december 7, 2016 december 9, 2016 by hilary parkinson, posted in uncategorized todays post comes from kimberlee ried, public programs specialist at the national archives at kansas city. Jimmy doolittle, the leader of the historic doolittle raid. May 26, 2014 on december 7, 1941, japan attacked pearl harbor and u.
The doolittle raid was an amazing mission that led to the first blow to japan during wwii. Air force photo launch of b25 from deck of uss hornet on april 18, 1942. Sep 19, 2016 air force secretary deborah lee james with retired lt. The event is being held to raise funds for the vintage aviation museum which was started at salem, oregon but is being moved to utah. He was one of the airmen who took part in the doolittle raid on april 18, 1942, serving as the copilot to jimmy doolittle in the lead airplane of the raid. Richard cole, accompanied by jim bower, son of one of the pilots on the raid, the late bill bower. Dick cole, copilot to jimmy doolittle during the april 18, 1942, doolittle raid over tokyo, sits at the controls of a refurbished u. Coles survivors include his daughter, cindy cole chal, and his son, richard. Completed pilot training and commissioned as second lieutenant, july, 1941. Remembering dick cole, who risked his life in wwii doolittle. Richard cole has 77 books on goodreads with 4029 ratings. Dick cole, the last living connection to a daring world war ii bombing mission and a frequent visitor to northwest florida, died tuesday in. Colonel richard cole colonel richard dick cole, doolittle s copilot during the momentous raid that bears his name, is the sole surviving veteran of a group forever known to history as the.
Cole was honored by the community and guests as the only remaining military. Last surviving doolittle raider takes stage at air force. Cole, copilot to jimmy doolittle during the doolittle raid, stands in front of a refurbished u. Richard cole, the last survivor of the doolittle raid, the first u. Lieutenant colonel richard dick cole was part of a group known as the. Richard cole, 103, last survivor of doolittle raid on. Derek white, during the air, space and cyber conference in national harbor. Richard eugene cole september 7, 1915 april 9, 2019 was an american career officer in the united states air force. Cole was born at fort sam houston, in san antonio, texas, to colonel clarence f. Not your average army air corps pilot if average could be applied to pilots during that time, cole served as jimmy doolittles copilot during the infamous doolittle raid, as a hump pilot during the. To his right was the very young lieutenant richard cole.
Cole was honored by the community and guests as the only. And, at its controls was one of americas top aviators, lt. Paul sailer explores comradeship through the stories of ordinary people who lived or died during world war ii. He eventually reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. Richard cole, 103, last survivor of doolittle raid on japan. This book should be a read for all to be proud of this gentleman richard cole. Doolittle raider richard cole re cole signed dick coles war. Lt col richard cole last of the doolittle raiders uncle. Cole, copilot to jimmy doolittle during the doolittle raid, smiles as he honors the u. Feb 23, 20 tyndall air force base an air force officer has been sentenced to 17 years in a military prison and dishonorably discharged for a sexual relationship he had with an underaged male in 2011. He joined the army air corps in 1940 and was in augusta, ga. The last goblet ceremony of the doolittle raiders the.
Proceeds from the book go into a scholarship fund in doolittles name for. Military academy graduate richard cole talked about his experiences as a west point cadet and his vietnam war service, including his second tour of duty in 1973 during the american withdrawal. Cole opens the 1896 bottle of cognac before the doolittle tokyo raiders shared their last and final toast at the national museum of the u. Edward saylor and is moderated by the grandson of author col. Cole was the only raider still alive when the wreckage of hornet was found in late january 2019 by the research vessel petrel at a depth of more than 17,000. Cole, who served as doolittles copilot on crew number 1. Richard cole, front row, stand with the crew that accompanied them in the lead plane of the doolittle raid on japan on april 18, 1944. Dick cole, the doolittle raiders made history, planted the. He is best known for having commanded easy company of the 2nd battalion, 506th parachute infantry regiment, part of the 101st airborne division, during world war ii. Richard cole slowly walked up to the antique bomber and clutched one of its.
Graduated from steele high school, dayton, ohio and completed two years college at ohio university. Cole, a life member of moaa, retired from the air force as a lieutenant colonel. Cole, the last surviving doolittle raider, tours a u. Cole look at a b25 mitchell static display during a memorial service for their father at. Doolittle thirty seconds over tokyo raid 71 years later. Jimmy doolittle at arlington national cemetery on may 23, 2014. Mar 16, 2012 the discussion includes the survivors lt. Cole was copilot of the lead b25 bomber piloted by lt.