Time Marches On...

[twowings]

A salute to a real hero... R.I.P.



https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/09/us/last-doolittle-raider-dick-cole-dies/index.html

[Chuck in Indiana]

Time marches on for sure. Would you believe that I've actually met Jimmy Doolittle?  I *can't* be this old..

[oldbike54]

 Colonel Cole spoke at a graduation ceremony where several of us USAF troops were graduating from school , I really only learned who he was after the event , wish I had known before . Blue skies and tailwinds sir , well done 

 Dusty

[Rough Edge racing]

 What a fantastic adventure, all volunteers for a mission of extreme danger with return doubtful..

[yogidozer]

Fearless patriot! I'll try to find that movie, 30 seconds over Tokyo.

[Dharma Bum]

There was a display case in Arnold Hall at the Air Force Academy that had a slot for each man frm the Doolittle Raid with glasses in them that were taken out for a toast at their reunions.  When one passed, the glass was tipped upside down.  Haven't been there for years since my daughter graduated in 2002 but I recall a decent number that were right side up at that time. I'll see if I can get up there and take a pic of it now.

[Huzo]

What was the target on that particular “raid”

[cliffrod]

What was the target on that particular “raid”

It was conceived as the first air raid to attack Tokyo and other targets on the home island of Japan.  It was more about PR and symbolic capacity of USA military to boost overall USA morale than a mission intended to cause massive destruction.  Since there was not enough fuel capacity to travel to targets and return to home territory, the flight was to be a one way trip with ditch towards mainland China.

Larger write-up from wiki- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid

[Sheepdog]

The Doolittle Raid was executed about 4 1/2 months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Land-based bombers were launched off of an aircraft carrier and multiple targets were hit in Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka and other locales on Honshu. The damage was somewhat slight, but it resulted in Japan's decision to attack Midway. The American navy's victory there so compromised Japan's navy that it was on the defensive from then until their surrender.

Along with the Battle of Leyte Gulf, I feel this raid was one of the most extraordinary accomplishments by the American military in the Pacific theatre. Uncommon courage...

[Huzo]

What movie was that where the second half was talking about that mission ?
It had Alec Baldwin (I think) as Captain Doolittle.
Was it Pearl Harbour ?
They told the tale of getting the B25’s off a short strip on the carrier.

[Gliderjohn]

From Huzo:

They told the tale of getting the B25’s off a short strip on the carrier.

From what I understand they had a very strong headwind along with the carrier at full speed on takeoff. Of course Doolittle's plane was the first one and had the shortest distance off the carrier. That same headwind I think was why they didn't have enough fuel to reach China. An amazing mission to pul off at all.
GliderJohn

[Rough Edge racing]

From Huzo:From what I understand they had a very strong headwind along with the carrier at full speed on takeoff. Of course Doolittle's plane was the first one and had the shortest distance off the carrier. That same headwind I think was why they didn't have enough fuel to reach China. An amazing mission to pul off at all.
GliderJohn

  .....One of the Doolittle pilot's told the take off story...the navy crewman in charge of takeoff held the planes at high power level  for what seemed like forever while he listened and watched the engines to be sure there were no fouled spark plugs....I believe the take off was out further than planned because they had been spotted by a Japanese boat...

[Gliderjohn]

From RoughEdgeRacing:

the take off was out further than planned because they had been spotted by a Japanese boat...

Ah yes, that too.
GliderJohn