Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, the last of World War II's Doolittle Raiders, passed away early Monday morning in San Antonio with his daughter, Cindy, and son, Rich, at his side, according to reports from family and friends.

Cole was 103 years old. Arrangements are being made for a memorial service at Randolph Air Force Base, and Cole will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Last member of the Doolittle Raiders. Lt Col. Rickard E. "Dick" Cole, 103, was the last remaining member of the Doolittle Raiders of World War II. Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, the raiders were America's response to the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. In April 1942, just four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Doolittle led sixteen B-25B Mitchell Medium Bombers on a raid to bomb Tokyo, Japan. Launching from the USS Hornet, the raiders bombed significant target on the main Island of Honshu. Unable to return to the USS Hornet, 15 of the 16 bombers landed in China, all of which crashed. The 16th plane landed successfully in Russia. This daring raid accomplished little in the way of damage, but boosted the morale of the American people. It was the first good news since the beginning of the war. Richard Cole had finished High School in Ohio and two years at Ohio University when he enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in November 1940. By 1941 he had been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. For the attack Cole was the co-pilot of the first plane to leave the Hornet with Col Doolittle as the pilot. After the raid the five member crew bailed out over China as their plane ran out of fuel. They survived landing and were protected by the Chinese people and American Missionaries. The rest of his time in the war was spent in the China-Burma-India theater of operation. Cole remained in the Air Corps until relieved in 1947. Six months later he returned to active duty serving as an Air Operations Officer in various locations. Cole was awarded the Bronze Star Air Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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Military figure. He was the last surviving airman to participate in the Doolittle Raid led by then Lt. Colonel

Cole was the co-pilot of Doolittle's first B-25 aircraft, designated Plane # 40-2344, which took off from the USS Hornet and bombed Tokyo, Japan on April 18, 1942. He and other crew members bailed out over China when it ran out of fuel. He was awarded three Distinguished Flying Cross Citations and retired from the Air Force on December 31, 1966.

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Additional info provided by TX Coastie #49161511

I am providing you a link the shows Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. 'Dick' Cole, Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot in the Tokyo raid, will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery whenever this pandemic thing is finished I'm presuming. Lieutenant Colonel Cole was cremated, and I guess Arlington National Cemetery is just waiting for this PANIC-demic to end. ANC is closed to the public right now except for family members to get passes. The link below will tell you about burial details which will take place at Arlington National Cemetery. As Lieutenant Colonel Cole lived out his last many years in Texas, I met him every year for many years at the Wings over Houston Airshow every October. While he passed away last year, the Legends and Heroes tent where you could meet him did a tribute to him and I got a picture of that to share with you if you would like it. I also have a photograph of the postcard he signed and gave to me, and all people he met in the tent. I'm willing to share that with you as well. He signed his name to it only, so there are no personal details on it. Keep me posted on what you would like to do. My email is: HighlanderLJ@cs.com

Thanks,

Larry

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/demand-for-veteran-burials-could-put-strain-national-cemeteries/T0laCF99AONU1umgaE9IVI/

**************additional info from Mark Klinger (47196044)*****************

I thought I would let you know that he was finally buried on Sep 7, 2021 at Fort Sam Houston and was posthumous promotion to Col.

Richard E Cole