by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs
4/21/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- It
was April 18, 1942, and the United States was embroiled in World War II
following the unsuspected attack on Pearl Harbor and the Imperial
Japanese forces had rapidly extended their reach across the Pacific.
When called upon, 80 men volunteered for a "top secret" mission blindly -
a mission that had never been accomplished before; one that would later
prove to the Japanese high command that their home islands were not
untouchable to the Americans and would cause them to go on the defense.
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and community members recognized and
honored the men from this daring mission, called the Doolittle Tokyo
Raiders, during a 72nd anniversary event that drew a packed house at the
JBSA-Randolph Parr Club.
"These men taught us nothing is insurmountable," Gary Boyd, Air
Education and Training Command historian, said. "In our bleakest moment
we can always find a way out,"
Retired Maj. Gen. Mike Skinner, guest speaker, agreed with Boyd, adding,
"My dad was a B-25 pilot, so to be here as a part of something bigger
than me fills me with pride."
The ceremony was attended by one of the four living Doolittle Tokyo
Raiders: retired Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" Cole, the copilot of Aircraft
No. 1.
Cole was born in Dayton, Ohio, home of the Wright Brothers, in September
1915. As if drawing from the Wright brothers' fascination with flight,
Cole was anxious to enlist in the Army Air Corps as soon as possible.
After two years of college, which was the requisite to qualify for pilot
training, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1940 and was
commissioned as a second lieutenant in November 1941. In February 1942,
he volunteered with the other members of his squadron.
"It was a time when we needed to do something, our country was in danger," Cole said. "We did what needed to be done."
Family members of retired Lt. Col. James Parker Jr., co-pilot of Aircraft No. 9, were also in attendance.
Parker, a Texas native, was born in Houston, in February 1920. He
attended Lon Morris Junior College and Texas A&M College before
enlisting in the service as an aviation cadet in November 1940 and
graduated from Advanced Flying School as a pilot in July 1941. Parker
and his crew's target was the Tokyo Gas and Electric Company on the
shore of Tokyo Bay. After the raid, he and his crew arrived over China
after dark and in heavy rain. He bailed out of the aircraft 100 miles
south of Pyong Lake.
"It means a lot to be here, to see all the men and women in honor of the
Doolittle Raiders," said Connie Parker, daughter-in-law of James
Parker.
The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders were a group of men from all walks of life
who volunteered for the mission. They didn't even know the targeted
destination until the 16 B-25 twin-engine bombers were loaded on the
aircraft carrier USS Hornet. These men would carry out the first attack
of World War II on the Japanese mainland.
Because the planes were too large to be taken below deck on the aircraft
carrier, they were stored at the end of the runway on top, resulting in
the runway take off being very
short - 300 feet.
Although all B-25s successfully took off from the carrier and bombed
their targets, most met with anti-aircraft fire and aerial enemy
interception. All except one plane crash-landed or had crew bail out.
After the mission, 65 men survived and were led to safe zones by
Republic of China locals. Eight men were captured by the Japanese, but
only four survived. Four landed in Russia and were held in captivity for
a year before escaping to Iran. One died upon bailout of the North
American B-25B Mitchell aircraft, and two drowned after bailout.
"On behalf of the Doolittle Raiders, I would like to thank you for your
generosity and support on this special day," Cole said as he raised his
toast in honor of the Doolittle Raiders.
After the toast, Gen. Robin Rand, Air Education and Training Command
commander, presented Cole with a commander's coin among other
certificates of appreciation and an American flag.
"We are standing in the presence of living history today," Rand said.
"We stand on the shoulders of giants, of men like Cole. We use what the
other Raiders did as inspiration to propel us to do the things we need
to do for our country."
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