Doolittle Raiders

[Seanaldinho]

As some of you know this is the last time the Doolittle Raiders will be having a reunion. So today I took a 20 minute drive down to Eglin AFB and attended an autograph session with three of the four remaining Raiders (Lt. Col. Ed Saylor, Lt. Col. Dick Cole, and Staff Sergeant David Thatcher).

So a little history; the Doolittle raid was an attack on the Japanese homeland on April 18 1942. I was supposed to be born on the 18th (but got bored and came a day early) so my dad, being the aviation junkie he is, built a model B-25 (the plane they used). That B-25 has hung in my bedroom for the past 17 years. Today I took it with me and all three of them signed it. Pretty cool in my opinion.



Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole on the left wing.
Lt. Col. Ed Saylor on the right wing.
Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher on the horizontal stab.

[killrDan]

I didn't realize this would be their last reunion...sad.  You'd better take good care of that keepsake!   

[TOMCAT21]

Awesosme, thanks for sharing the photo.

[mcboi]

20 min drive? you live in crestview sean? i live in Mary Esther

[Lab Rat 3947]

I saw an article on the net that said the last four would be gathering in the near future for a private reunion and that they open that bottle & drink it together.

LtngRydr

[Hap]

 

[matt]

 

[Brooke]

Thanks for posting, and that is really cool that your Dad made you a B-25.  And then it was signed by Doolittle raiders 17 years later! 

[pipz]

Thats great stuff! Hang on to that model!

[Seanaldinho]

I saw an article on the net that said the last four would be gathering in the near future for a private reunion and that they open that bottle & drink it together.

LtngRydr

Indeed. The original plan was for them to meet every year until two of them were left and then the last survivor would then have a private "reunion" and drink a toast of the 1896 Congnac for all of them. However, the four of them decided they didnt want to wait until only one was left (cant say I blame them). So this will be their last public reunion and sometime later this year they will hold the private reunion.

The Hennessy Cognac was a gift to the Raiders and with it came 80 goblets, one for each raider, and when a raider passes their goblet is turned upside down. The Cognac is guarded by a small contingent of academy cadets and goes wherever the Raiders go.