World War II Honoree

Richard 'Dick' Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Dayton, Ohio

Honored By

Missouri DAV Chapter 67

HE WAS A 'DOOLITTLE RAIDER' AND WAS JIMMY DOOLITTLES CO-PILOT LEADING A FLIGHT OF 16 B-25 BOMBERS LAUNCHING FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS HORNET ON APEIL 18, 1942 TO CARRY OUT A SURPRISE BOMBING RAID ON THE JAPANESE MAINLAND. HE BAILED OUT IN THE DARK 'UNKNOWN' IN ROUGH WEATHER. HIS PARACHUTE CAUGHT IN A TREE, LEAVING HIM DANGLING BUT SAFE. CHINESE PARTISANS HELPED LEAD HIM AND OTHER RAIDERS TO SAFETY.