Passing of Richard Cole, Doolittle Raider

10 Apr 2019

In Apr 1942, US Army Air Force flew B-25 bombers off of the flight deck of US Navy carrier Hornet and bombed Tokyo, Japan. Damage inflicted was inconsequential, but the morale boost given to the United States, which was still recovering from the shock of the Pearl Harbor raid five months earlier, was significant. 1st Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Cole was James Doolittle's co-pilot during this raid, and his bomber was the first to reach Tokyo. His aircraft continued into China after the attack, and he parachuted to safety, returning to the United States with the help of Chinese resistance fighters. He was highly decorated, by both the United States and the Republic of China, for the success of this raid. Cole passed away at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, United States on 9 Apr 2019 at the age of 103. He was the last surviving participan of the raid. A memorial service is planned for 18 Apr 2019 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, and his remains will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States.