Air Force Museum to mark 75th Anniversary of Doolittle Tokyo Raid

last updated 02/17/2017
Air Force Museum to mark 75th Anniversary of Doolittle Tokyo Raid

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force plans to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

Air Force Museum to mark 75th Anniversary of Doolittle Tokyo Raid

On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top-secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. 

Today, just one of the men survive: Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" E. Cole, who served as Doolittle's co-pilot on Crew No. 1. Cole, now 101 years old, plans to return to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in April to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the raid and to pay tribute to fellow Raider SSgt. David Thatcher, who passed away earlier this year.

Anniversary events at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on April 17-18 are still being finalized but plans include the return of several B-25 Mitchell bombers landing on the runway behind the museum and being placed on static display; a memorial service and B-25 flyover (weather permitting). 

Read more: 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid

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