The Last of Doolittle’s Raiders
Lt. Col. Richard Cole, the last surviving member of Doolittle’s Raiders of World War II in the Pacific, has passed at the age of 103 on Monday morning.
Cole also was among the airmen who had to bail out of the the B-25s after the raid. Asked recently about his sharpest memory of the raid, after more than 76 years, Cole had a quick response. “The thing I remember most is my parachute opening,” he smiled.
Their history is here. http://www.doolittleraider.com/
Their mission is now completed.
Catch the tailwind, Colonel Cole. Straight on ’til morning.
Category: Air Force
May your landing at the Pearly Gates be a light one Dear Colonel.
Sad to hear. I guess you can’t expect them to live forever, and 103 is a damn fine run. They’ll always be forever 25, full of piss and vinegar and more balls than brains, ready to stick it to Hirohito in my mind.
God speed, Colonel Cole.
Worth noting, Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot for the raid. So that iconic imagine of the B-25 dipping off the front of the Hornet, nearly hitting the water, and rising up like an eagle that we’ve all seen so many times, had Misters Doolittle and Cole at the sticks.
I’d love to hear cockpit audio from that takeoff. The laws of physics says B-25’s cannot take off from a carrier. Physics does not consider the effect of huge balls and sheer will.
Actually, the Laws of Physics said they just might pull it off. Thrust, lift, weight, and drag. It’s all in the numbers.
The missing part? The stones to prove it.
Add in the craziness to attempt it
Actually the video you are talking about was the #2 aircraft with Lt Hoover at the controls – there were large swells at takeoff and Hoover overcorrected – and Doolittle reported the error as part of the after action report sent to Gen “Hap” Arnold. The “Old Man” as Col Doolittle was known, led by example and had a perfect <500 foot liftoff.
Most 18 to 25 year olds, especially of that era had more balls than brains. Back when I was in my 20’s, I had little sense of my own morality. We always thought it was some other poor bastard that was going to die in battle or jumping out of an airplane. I once did a “lone ranger” one man recon down a trail in the RVN less than 24 hours after my company had been mortared in the same area, when I only had about 35 days until my DEROS. I wouldn’t do anything so foolish now.
How very true, brother. It’s hard to remember just why you feel immortal, looking back on it. First time getting shot at my first words were literally “So, I’m gonna go get my rifle.” It was a oh cool, it’s happening moment more so than any real sense of danger or fear.
Well, my comment should say “mortality” instead of “morality,” but apparently most know what I meant. I guess this is why they use the rule: “Measure twice, cut once” in carpentry. I shall try to proof twice before I hit “post.”
Funny how life changed in an instant for so many, one moment you are young and somewhat carefree and the next you are constantly alert and super aware of your surroundings irregardless of where you were in country. TET was a huge awakening for many over there, bravado and invincibility got replaced by stark reality.
Since I didn’t arrive until June of 1970, I don’t think I served with anyone who was there during TET except for one extraordinary LRRP team leader who was just finishing his fourth year of his service “in country.”
Christ. Four years as an LRRP team leader? Had he gone full Col Kurtz yet?
Another Warrior joins his Comrades in Valhalla, Rest In Hallowed Peace Sir.
USS Hornet is doing her part, cracking on as much wind down the flight deck as she can. Note Dolittle’s nose gear is aloft well back from the deck edge, as are both mainmounts shortly afterwards. I recall reading, in the excitement, one of the pilots in the back of the pack even forgot to lower his flaps and still got airborne.
Not to belittle the feat AT ALL- if Doolittle thought it could be done, he’d go first. There’s a name for that. Leadership.
Fair winds and following seas, Lt. Col. Cole.
According to this post-raid after action report from Mitscher to Nimitz, with an endorsement by Halsey, the Doolitle Raiders could have had 62+ knots of wind down the throat on the flight deck during launch (prevailing winds at sea 40+ knots; USS HORNET making 22 knots heading into the wind):
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/logs/CV/cv8-Tokyo.html
‘[…]
Plane handling on the flight deck was expeditious and well done. One plane handler lost an arm by backing to a B-25 propeller. A high wind of over forty knots and heavy swells caused Hornet to pitch violently, occasionally taking green seas over the bow and wetting the flight deck. The over-all time for launching sixteen bombers was 59 minutes. Average interval, 3.9 minutes.
[…]
At 0800 received orders from Comtaskfor 16 to launch bombers. At 0803 changed course into wind and prepared to launch; steaming at 22 knots, course 310° T. Crews manning planes and numerous lashings being removed from planes consumed several minutes. At 0825 launched first B-25 (Lieut. Colonel Doollttle pilot). Second plane launched 7 minutes later. Launchings have been previously discussed. Last bomber launched at 0920, after which Hornet reversed course to 090° T. and joined disposition.
[…].’
So many are gone now; so few left. We will never forget them, but will those who come after us remember, or even care.
Feeling maudlin today, I guess, at this sad news.
For the numbers of people that participate in Civil War battle recreations, cowboy pistol shoots, and the like, I think there will always be those that remember. I’ve even seen WWI, WWII, and Vietnam reenactors at some airshow-style events the last few years.
Fair winds and following seas good sir, your generation was indeed the greatest. You selflessly stepped up and served during a time when the wolves were truly at the gates.
I’ll raise a beer (or several) toasting to the last Goblet being put in a place of honor upon the shelf. 103 years was your reward for a job well done!
Another great link on the raid and the men can be found here:
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196211/doolittle-raid/
I belong to a WWII Engineer history forum that had several WWII vets as members when I joined in 2007 (http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/engforum). They slowly but steadily dropped off the forum and almost all have now died. It was sad to see because they sort of filled a vacuum left by my grand father’s death in 2004. KNOWING these men and women are leaving us at an exponential rate doesn’t help when some news makes it personal.
Farewell sir, just one more happy landing to make.
Fair thee well, Colonel.
Had the pleasure and honor of meeting roughly 15 of the Raiders in my life. Took pictures, got signatures, and attended a banquet in their honor. Their kind will not grace our presence again. Nothing but respect and gratitude for what that 80 man group achieved.
Godspeed and Farewell Colonel Cole. A portion of a grateful Nation Honors your Service and Salutes your Bravery…Ready…Two!
Think of the irony, the first to take off is the last to pass away. Taking off 10 hours early, knowing that the chances of making the pre planned landing spots were slim to none. And taking off anyway.
R.I.P. Sir. Thank you for your service and your part in saving the freedom we so much cherish and enjoy.
May your flight to the heavens above be smooth and your landing be the best.
William J. Dieter, SSG. My Mother’s great uncle. (Then there’s my cousin’s brother’s niece who once ran a truck stop owned by dad, who was once married to the girl who owned the ‘notellmotel’, who’s sister ran the ‘HOLLYWOOD MAPS TO THE STARS!!’ on the corner.
William J. Dieter, SSG.
Peace to all.
I remember being in the 4th grade and reading “Thirty Seconds over Tokyo” and deciding to check that book out again and re-read it. Mrs. Westofer wouldn’t give me credit again but she understood how much I loved that book. A few days ago I saw the movie on the old movie channel and it brought back all the things I remembered reading 49 years ago. Spencer Tracy was Col Doolittle, Van Johnson was Ted Lawson – the pilot that wrote the book. I doubt anything like that could be found in school library’s today.
I think I read it in 5th grade, then peppered my dad with questions for weeks. At the time, my young brain could not comprehend the kind of bravery it took to fly off a carrier, knowing full well that even under perfect conditions, you were pretty much going to run out of gas or get shot down. Sometimes it still boggles my mind. Men like these are why we won the war.
That’s what’s crazy about the whole plan to me. That they were going to fly to China and land was really just a dream, especially when they had to launch early. So they took off knowing they were going to be ditching. Hoping that maybe they’d be ditching in friendly territory.
R.I.P. sir! We owe your generation so much.
LtCol Cole and the others went into Harm’s Way when they volunteered for their mission. American has on the defensive against the Japanese and needed a glimmer of hope. The Tokyo was the glimmer of hope and it did so much for the morale of the American people at that time.
Rest in Peace LtCol Cole… and thank you for your service.
I first read “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” in the 4th grade and read it many times more. Like many kids of generation I also saw the movie. The Doolittle Raiders were my heroes and it wasn’t until many years later that I met four of them who were attending a reunion in Seattle. At the time I was the crew scheduler for the McChord AFB C-130 simulator when I received a call from the base PAO asking if we could let them fly the simulator. When they walked through the door I really couldn’t believe that I was seeing the heroes of my childhood. When I asked them how Ted Lawson was doing one of them asked me how I knew him, I told them about my childhood. Their response was the Ted had passed away. Over the years I have followed the Raiders and the crossed over to the big airfield in the sky I would feel sad. When Dick Cole passed away I cried. It was like I had lost a member of my family.
Every since I was able to get a taxi ride in a B-25 it has been my favorite airplane. Knowing that, my son’s bought a ride in a B-25 for my birthday. I was able to fly in forward bombardier position. While it wasn’t like flying over Tokyo, we did fly over Seattle which gave an idea of how it was to fly across a large city.