Doolittle Raid Reunion

**csadn** · 04-12-2012 15:40

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/doolit...MTk3NTc4ODg2S0 :

"The five surviving crew slated to attend the reunion include Richard E. Cole, co-pilot of crew 1, Thomas Carson Griffin, navigator of crew 9, Robert L. Hite, co-pilot of crew 16, Edward Joseph Saylor, engineer of crew 15, and David J. Thatcher, engineer-gunner of crew 7."

How long until this becomes Recorded History.... :P

**BobP** · 04-13-2012 13:18

Well these guys are in their 80's/90's. Korean vets in their 70's and Viet Nam vets (I am one) in their 60's. Those after that are the young ones 20'/30's but I think more closley associated with the WWII vets. I did one tour in Nam and Korea had a rotation system. WWII vets were there for the duration and the new kids do many tours.

**Doug** · 04-13-2012 13:30

Still facinated by the raid.

**BobP** · 04-13-2012 13:42

Wait until the planes come out so we can fly them.

**Baldrick62** · 04-13-2012 14:13

Brave men all, who literally launched into the unknown on a one-way mission.

**cpflyer** · 04-13-2012 15:33

interesting read thanks

**csadn** · 04-14-2012 16:37

Originally Posted by Baldrick62

Brave men all, who literally launched into the unknown on a one-way mission.

Wellllllll... that "one-way" *was* supposed to have ended in China; that the acft. had to launch early bollixed that.

**Grey Knight** · 04-16-2012 07:17

sad there is only five left,but their memory and accomplishments live on

**Nightbomber** · 04-16-2012 08:34

There is a very long, detailed and picture rich article in Polish bimonthly Militaria of XX century magazine with photos of every crew in front of their planes, with Chinese soldiers and doctors and their later carreers. Amazing mission, brave men.

Here is the cover:

Click image for larger version.

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**Old Navy** · 04-16-2012 09:37

When you consider all that went wrong in the raid, it's amazing that so many of them made it back to friendly territory. That's a testiment to the Chinese people who suffered greatly in the Japanese reprisals afterward.

**BobP** · 04-16-2012 12:53

I was looking at the Reading Air show I am goint to in Jun e and there a 4 vets from the 509th Composite Group that will be there. That was the group that dropped the A bomb. When you see their photos you can see how old these guys are. There will also be two survivors of Pearl Harbor and three on the Malmady Massacre from the Battle of the Buldge.