Colonel Richard E. Cole, copilot of aircraft #1
Major Thomas C. Griffin, navigator of aircraft #9
Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Hite, copilot of aircraft #16
Major Edward Joseph Saylor, engineer of aircraft #15
Staff Sergeant David J. Thatcher, gunner of aircraft #7
As of April 2011, five Raiders are still alive.Only eight were able to attend the 64th anniversary reunion held in Dayton, Ohio, in April 2006. Seven attended the 65th anniversary in 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, six attended the 66th anniversary in 2008 in Dallas, Texas, and four attended the 67th anniversary in 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. The raiders held their 68th reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Cole, Griffin, Hite and Thatcher were the only raiders well enough to attend.
There are also seven individuals, such as Lt. Miller and raider historian Col. Carroll V. Glines, who are considered honorary Raiders for their respective efforts for the mission.
The last of the surviving Doolittle raider pilots, Bill Bower, died on 10 January 2011 at age 93 in Boulder, Colorado.
more information can be found HERE
Mike - Thanks for doing this. I didn't search enough this weekend to be accurate. I really appreciate your extra research. I'm going to update my records.
ReplyDeleteTravis,I am happy that I was able to agument your information.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bit of history, Mike. So many of the really old timers are gone, taking their memories with them.
ReplyDeleteSyd,sad but true. so many of them gone and the lessons they could teach are gone as well.
ReplyDelete