Last Doolittle Raider remembers historic mission

[jacksmar]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ago/518359001/

OSHKOSH, Wis. — America was still reeling from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor when 16 B-25 bombers lifted off the deck of an aircraft carrier and figuratively poked Japan in the eye.

The Doolittle Raid that took the battle to the Japanese homeland for the first time in April 1942 was daring and audacious. All 80 crew members were volunteers — for them it was a one-way journey.

The last surviving Doolittle Raider, Richard Cole, came to EAA AirVenture on Wednesday as part of the 75th anniversary commemoration of the famed World War II raid. Cole received a standing ovation as he waved to a crowd in bleachers around a B-25 Mitchell bomber dubbed “Panchito.”

[Seshmeister]

I don't know why I was surprised there was only one survivor left, time marches on.

I remember reading about this mission years ago and thinking it was dumb but apparently it worked as propoganda.

Not so good if you were one of the 10 000 Chinese civilians murdered in retaliation but different times I guess. Ten thousand is a pretty insignificant amount as a percentage of the total Chinese killed by the Japanese in those times...

[Nickdfresh]

Yeah, I think all the bombers were lost and a large percentage of the crews were killed or captured. But it was a masterpiece of Propaganda. Militarily ineffective, but it bucked up nations that felt the Japanese were barbarian supermen. Only 10,000 Chinese murdered? The Imperial Japanese Army must have been slacking, or there weren't that many that they could get their hands on left to kill...