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Doolittle Raiders to meet for final reunion

It's sad to see these men, and those like them, become fewer and fewer every year.

This country owes these men a dept of gratitude that I don't think can ever be repaid.

Blue skies and fair winds Gentlemen.

Quote:

Doolittle Raiders to meet for final reunion: 'We’re going to close this mission'

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders will end their longstanding tradition of reunions this year at the place where it all started.

The group of 80 men made famous by their April 18, 1942, bombing on Tokyo that lifted American morale during World War II is down to five living members.

“It was a very emotional decision to make,” said Tom Casey, business manager for the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. “I think this was one of the toughest things I‘ve ever done.”

The Raiders trained at then Eglin Field with Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, who led the 16 Army B-25 bombers off the deck of the Navy aircraft carrier to bomb five major Japanese cities.

The four active Raiders decided last October that this year would be their final reunion. The decision was announced Friday.

“Looking at their health and that this is where they trained for the mission, we thought this would be fitting for the final public reunion,” Casey said.

The reunion being organized by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce April 16-21 will be a “Farewell Tribute.” Last year’s event in Dayton, Ohio, sold out in three hours, and this year’s event is looking to be just as popular.

The men have met yearly since 1946 to celebrate their camaraderie and the success in their mission.

“There was such companionship between the 80 men who started out together,” Casey said. “Because of the type of mission they took on there was a lot of teamwork involved.

“That was a mission they weren‘t sure they’d come back from.”

The four active Raiders range from 92 to 97 years old.

At the reunion they will open a bottle of cognac made the year Jimmy Doolittle was born. They originally had planned to pass the bottle on to the last two survivors, but changed their minds.

“Instead of waiting for the final two, we decided to call it a day,” Casey said. “They agreed that they should do this last one and that they can all enjoy that final toast.

“We’re going to close this mission.”

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/do...ission-1.88307

It wont be long before their all gone. This final "public" reunion should garnish all the honors this country could muster but don't count on it.

Glad they're able to call the final shot and go out on their terms....:lifter

There are some guys who truly epitomize, "Ok, now we're gonna do it without the net."

:lifter

When I was a young officer at Fort Ord in the late 80's I had the honor of hearing him speak. Truly inspiring.

A toast: To the Final Five...and those that went before them. Thank you Gentlemen, we shall remember.

Purely beautiful.
A successful mission, brothers in arms sharing the ultimate trust.

I will drink with you,
Thank you gentlemen, and blue skies.

Amalek

80 Brave Men

Plane # 40-2344
Pilot Lt. Col. J.H. Doolittle
Co-Pilot Lt. R.E. Cole
Navigator Lt. H.A. Potter
Bombardier SSgt. F.A. Braemer
Engineer Gunner SSgt. P.J. Leonard

Plane # 40-2292
Pilot Lt. T. Hoover
Co-Pilot Lt. W.N. Fitzhugh
Navigator Lt. C.R. Wildner
Bombardier Lt. R.E. Miller
Engineer Gunner SSgt. D.V. Radney

Plane # 40-2270
Pilot Lt. R.M. Gray
Co-Pilot Lt. Jacob E. Manch
Navigator Lt. C.J. Ozuk
Bombardier Sgt. A.E. Jones
Engineer Gunner Cpl. L.D. Faktor

Plane # 40-2282
Pilot Lt. E.W. Holstrom
Co-Pilot Lt. L.N. Youngblood
Navigator Lt. H.C. McCool
Bombardier Sgt. R.J. Stephens
Engineer Gunner Cpl. B.M. Jordan

Plane # 40-2283
Pilot Capt. D.M. Jones
Co-Pilot Lt. R.R. Wilder
Navigator Lt. E.F. McGurl
Bombardier Lt. D.V. Truelove
Engineer Gunner Sgt. J.W. Manske

Plane # 40-2298
Pilot Lt. D.E. Hallmark
Co-Pilot Lt. R.J. Meder
Navigator Lt. C.J. Nielsen
Bombardier Sgt. W.J. Dieter
Engineer Gunner Cpl. D.E. Fitzmaurice

Plane # 40-2261
Pilot Lt. T.W. Lawson
Co-Pilot Lt. D. Davenport
Navigator Lt. C.L. McClure
Bombardier Lt. R.S. Clever
Engineer Gunner Sgt. D.J. Thatcher

Plane # 40-2242
Pilot Capt. E.J. York
Co-Pilot Lt. R.G. Emmens
Navigator Lt. N.A. Herndon
Bombardier SSgt. T.H. Laban
Engineer Gunner Sgt. D.W. Pohl

Plane # 40-2303
Pilot Lt. H.F. Watson
Co-Pilot Lt. J.M. Parker Jr.
Navigator Lt. T.C. Griffin
Bombardier Sgt. W.M. Bissell
Engineer Gunner Tsgt. E.V. Scott

Plane # 40-2250
Pilot Lt. R.O. Joyce
Co-Pilot Lt. J.R. Stork
Navigator Bombardier Lt. H.E. Crouch
Engineer Gunner Sgt. G.E. Larkin Jr.
Gunner SSgt. E.W. Horton Jr.

Plane # 40-2249
Pilot Capt. C.R. Greening
Co-Pilot Lt. K.E. Reddy
Navigator Lt. F.A. Kappeler
Bombardier SSgt. W.L. Birch
Engineer Gunner Sgt. M.J. Gardner

Plane # 40-2278
Pilot Lt. W.M. Bower
Co-Pilot Lt. T. Blanton
Navigator Lt. W.R. Pound Jr.
Bombardier TSgt. W.J. Bither
Engineer Gunner SSgt. O.A. Duquette

Plane # 40-2247
Pilot Lt. E.E. McElroy
Co-Pilot Lt. R.A. Knobloch
Navigator Lt. C.J. Campbell
Bombardier Sgt. R.C. Bourgeois
Engineer Gunner Sgt. A.R. Williams

Plane # 40-2297
Pilot Major J.A. Hilger
Co-Pilot Lt. J.A. Sims
Navigator Bombardier Lt. J.H. Macia Jr.
Radio Gunner SSgt E.V. Bain
Engineer Gunner SSgt. J. Eierman

Plane # 40-2267
Pilot Lt. D.G. Smith
Co-Pilot Lt. G.P. Williams
Navigator Bombardier Lt. H.A. Sessler
Flight Surgeon Lt. T.R. White M.D.
Engineer Gunner Sgt. E.J. Saylor

Plane # 40-2268
Pilot Lt. W.G. Farrow
Co-Pilot Lt. R.L. Hite
Navigator Lt. G. Barr
Bombardier Cpl. J. DeShazer
Engineer Gunner Sgt. H.A. Spatz

http://www.doolittleraider.com

http://www.komonews.com/news/nationa...203603141.html

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/18...est=latestnews

2010 - B-25 Doolittle Raiders Reenactment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F8Xa9pjc9o

How to Fly the North American B-25 "Mitchell" Medium Bomber (1944)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YQmkjpP6q8

Just read something online that said the one member who is 97 years old just recently piloted a B-25 bomber.

Awesome.

My hat's off to all of those brave men.

They just ran a spot about them on FOX news.

I sincerely hope these men get the recognition they deserve at their last reunion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojaveman (Post 502266)

Just read something online that the one member who is 97 years old just recently piloted a B-25 bomber.

Awesome.

My hat's off to all of those brave men.

That was LTC (R) Cole, General Doolittle's co=pilot.

TR

Glad they have this opportunity one last time to share memories together.
Thank you, gentlemen!
m&c

We've all been to reunions with special SF friends....what a great feeling, all of a sudden you're, for awhile, back in time and living those great and not so great times.
I'd like to see those guys together, watch their eye's light up and the years fall away.
Regular guys that did great things when great things needed doing.
What an epitaph.