The Doolittle Raid, April 18, 1942

From the April 18, 2019, Springfield (Ohio) New-Sun.

The attack was a psychological blow to the Japanese, who moved four fighter groups and  recalled top officers from other combat areas in order to guard Japan from another American bomber attack.

Two months after the Raid, Jimmy Doolittle received the Congressional Medal of Honor from FDR.  Richard Cole received a Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the war, the Doolittle Raiders decided to meet every year until only two remained .  That happened in 2013 and Richard Cole and the other one uncorked a bottle of vintage cognac from 1896, the year of Jimmy Doolittle's birth., for a final toast.  This bottle and the goblets they used can be found at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Today, we are saying our final goodbye to the last Doolittle Raider.