Page 12 - Aerotech News and Review July 1 2016
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Doolittle Raider honored to safety on the surrounding beach and applying Seven men never made it home, but the sacri-
son and president of Children of the Doolittle life-saving medical treatment, even though he fice of those brave aviators and the remaining 72
by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe Raiders. “He was full of dignity and grace, with was injured himself. men have been celebrated in time honored, cus-
Missoula, Mont. the soul of an angel and heart of a lion.” tom rich memorials and toasts every year since.
“I had a bird’s eye view as I was in the turret on
Seventy-four years after the historic Doolittle A B-1B Lancer from the 28th Bomb Wing at top, I could see in every direction. It was a beau- The greatest generation
Tokyo Raid, former SSgt. David J. Thatcher, one Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and a B-25 Mitch- tiful day when we came in over the beach. Before Often referred to as the greatest generation,
of two remaining Doolittle Raiders, was laid to ell performed flyovers in Thatcher’s honor. we reached Tokyo, there were six airplanes in
rest June 27 in Missoula, Mont. formation that came toward us,” Thatcher said young men from all across the U.S. stood ready
Ellsworth AFB has a strong tie to the Doolittle in a 2015 interview. “We were flying so low in to fight a war in arguably the most difficult time
Thatcher, 94, received military honors and Raiders. It is home to three of the four original formation that I’m sure they didn’t see us.” America has ever seen.
multiple aircraft flyovers at Sunset Memorial squadrons that participated in the historic raid:
Garden Cemetery. the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons and the 89th Thatcher was among those brave men.
Attack Squadron. He graduated from high school and enlisted
Air Force officials, friends and family from into the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 3, 1940.
across the country attended the ceremony. Retired With Thatcher’s death, Dick Cole is the last Thatcher completed the airplane and engine me-
Lt. Col. Richard Cole, the last surviving Doolittle surviving Doolittle Raider. Cole is 100 and lives chanic course in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was
Raider, also attended. in Comfort, Texas. prepared for war.
In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor,
The Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard The Doolittle Raid Thatcher was a part of 25 missions to include
rendered respects as a symbol of Thatcher’s leg- The Doolittle Tokyo Raid was a part of early the Doolittle Tokyo Raids, the first bombing in
acy of promoting the mission and preserving a Rome and operations in both England and Africa.
rich heritage. World War II efforts to turn the tide, increase mo- The humble veteran was often quoted saying
rale and display a show of force to Japan and the he “was only doing (his) job.”
Six airmen carried the American flag-draped world. Eighty men in 16 different B-25 bombers In 1944, Thatcher returned to Missoula, got
casket to Thatcher’s resting place. A seven-mem- participated in the historic raid. married and worked as a clerk and postman.
ber firing party delivered a 21-gun salute against Thatcher is a recipient of the Congressional
the mountain backdrop, into the crisp blue hori- Sixteen crews took off from the USS Hornet Gold Medal and Air Force Silver Star. His other
zon, giving Thatcher a final farewell as he was (CV-8), led by Col. Jimmy Doolittle and flew decorations include the Distinguished Flying
laid to rest. over Japan’s main island of Honshu and dropped Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and
bombs on vital defense resources within Tokyo. the Chinese Army, Navy and Air Corps Medal.
The sound of taps echoed forlornly off nearby “Be prepared for anything you might run into.
trees, while airmen carefully folded the flag 13 The plan was to land in a part of China not We weren’t,” said Thatcher when offered the op-
times, leaving only the visible blue field with infiltrated with enemy soldiers after completing portunity to give airmen a piece of advice April
stars representing Thatcher’s service. the mission. 17, 2015.
Thatcher’s death leaves a legacy of honor for
Dawn, Thatcher’s wife of 70 years, received At 20 years old, as an engineer gunner in Air Force history and an overwhelming sense of
the flag from an airman presented on behalf of the Flight Crew 7, Thatcher took to the skies in a pride in his closest family and friends.
president of the U.S., the Air Force and a grate- B-25 named Ruptured Duck.
ful nation for his honorable and faithful service.
The crew crash-landed into the sea off the
“My father was a very gentle, humble and coast of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher
compassionate individual,” said Jeff, Thatcher’s saved four members of the crew by pulling them
Veteran’s Resources
Veterans Administration Life Insurance: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
www.va.gov Service members and/or Veterans Group Life Insurance www.vfw.org
VA Benefits: Program National Headquarters
Burial, Death Pension, Dependency Indemnity Compen- 1-800-419-1473 406 West 34th St.
sation, Direct Deposit, Directions to VA Benefits Regional
Offices, Disability Compensation, Disability Pension, Edu- All other VA Life Insurance Programs Kansas City, MO 64111
cation, Home Loan Guaranty, Medical Care, Vocational 1-800-669-8477 Telephone: (816) 756-3390
Rehabilitation and Employment Mammography Helpline Washington Office
1-800-827-1000 1-888-492-7844 200 Maryland Ave., N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits Women Veterans Hotline Telephone: (202) 543-2239
1-877-294-6380 855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636)
Disabled American Veterans
Debt Management Center CHAMPVA Meds by Mail www.dav.org
1-800-827-0648 1-888-385-0235 (or)
1-866-229-7389 National Headquarters
(Collection of Non-Medical Debts) 3725 Alexandria Pike
Special Issues — Gulf War/Agent Orange/Project Shad/ Cold Spring, KY 41076
Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Mustard Agents and Lewisite/Ionizing Radiation Telephone: 1-877 I AM A VET (877-426-2838)
877-345-8179 1-800-749-8387
(859) 441-7300
Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Status of Headstones and Markers
1-888-820-1756 1-800-697-6947 Washington Office
807 Maine Ave., S.W.
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) Washington, DC 20024
Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) Dial 711 Telephone: (202)554-3501
CHAMPVA In-House Treatment Initiative The American Legion Vietnam Veterans of America
1-800-733-8387 www.legion.org www.vva.org
Education (GI Bill) National Headquarters 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100
1-888-442-4551 700 N. Pennsylvania Street Silver Spring, MD 20910
Health Care Benefits P.O. Box 1055 Telephone: 301-585-4000
1-877-222-8387 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Fax: 301-585-0519
Telephone: (317) 630-1200
Smoking Cessation Counselors Fax: (317) 630-1223 Toll Free: 1-800-882-1316
1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838)
Veterans Crisis Line Washington Office
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) 1608 K St. N.W.
Combat Call Center Washington, DC 20006
1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) Telephone: (202) 861-2700
Fax: (202) 861-2786
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