DocWard Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 It is being reported that Doolittle's co-pilot, Richard E. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider has passed away. The last goblet will finally be turned. Rest in Honored Peace, Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 One of the greatest of the Greatest Generation. RIP Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Solemn Salute... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pay Dirt Norvelle #90056 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 RIP Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 1 hour ago, Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663 said: Solemn Salute... ^ Honorably stated..... ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 RIP, Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Heroes all. May they rest in peace and honored glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Carpenter Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 There are so few WW2 Vets left today; these great B-25 Flyers were some of the best! Hoss C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 My dad Blue Boy sass46773 says they made a big thing of the raid at the factory in Kansas City Kansas where he worked making B-25s. Not many of that age group left. Imis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 said: My dad Blue Boy sass46773 says they made a big thing of the raid at the factory in Kansas City Kansas where he worked making B-25s. Not many of that age group left. Imis It was indeed a big thing. Huge! It gave Americans a much needed morale boost after the disastrous Japanese attack in the Pacific where we lost Wake Island, Guam, the Philippines, etc. The emperor had ensured his people that the US would never be able to attack Japan. I bet the nearest bar to the North American factory in KC was packed after work on April 18th of ‘42. My granddad flew Mitchells in N. Africa. One of my favorite planes. https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/kansas-city-b-25-factory-180951624/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 You can still see portions of the runways at the Fairfax site today. It remained open as an airport into the 1980s. It was closed when GM underwent a big expansion where the plant sits atop the runways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 5 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: It was indeed a big thing. Huge! It gave Americans a much needed morale boost after the disastrous Japanese attack in the Pacific where we lost Wake Island, Guam, the Philippines, etc. The emperor had ensured his people that the US would never be able to attack Japan. I bet the nearest bar to the North American factory in KC was packed after work on April 18th of ‘42. My granddad flew Mitchells in N. Africa. One of my favorite planes. https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/kansas-city-b-25-factory-180951624/ One of my favorites as well. If something could be "brutally elegant," the Mitchell would fit the description for me. With the gull wings and twin rudders, they are a sight to behold. I will see if I can find some of the pics I have taken from a couple of different flyovers honoring the Doolittle Raiders in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Back in the late 50s my dad worked for an aircraft maintenance outfit at The Miami airport. They had the contract to do repairs and upgrades on Batista’s air force. Dad took me to the hangar one day when I was about 9. There was a Cuban B-25 that was in for engines replacement. Dad put me up in the bomb bay for a few minutes. An awesome memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wapaloosie73 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Carpenter Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 If you love the B-25 Mitchel , which by the way was the product of North American Aviation in So Cal. (Old factory at the corner of Aviation and Imperial on the SE corner of LAX) you need to find and read the book Indestructible, It is the true story of Pappy Gunn and how he single handed changed the war in the South Pacific with his "illegal" modifications on the B-25s. Pappy was a retired USN Chief / pilot in the first all enlisted Squadron in the USN in the 20s. He flew off the USS Langley, the first USN Carrier. He retired from the Navy in the mid 30s, moved his family to the Philippines and stated a small, inter island airline with three airplanes. A Staggered Wing Beach and two Beech 18s (became the C-45 in the USA Air Corps) After Pearl Harbor and the same day attack on Manila, the Air Corps seized his airplanes for the war use. So Pappy join the Air Corps and was made a Captain. ( he later retired as a full Colonel well after ww2) Pappy saw the B-25 enter the Theater and used only as a medium bomber from 20k feet. The Jap Zeros ate them up. so Pappy figured out how to jerry rig four Browning 50 cals in the nose, and fly the B-25 at very low level and attack Jap ships. He did so much more to define the weapons & tactics for the Mitchel, but get the book and read it; you will not be sorry. It has two authors, but I only can remember one, his daughter, so her last name is Gunn too. cheers, Hoss C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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