Richard-Cole-Obituary

Richard Cole

1915 - 2019 (Age 103)

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AGE
103

Obituary

Richard Cole was the last surviving member of the daring Doolittle Raiders who bombed Japan during an aerial raid in World War II. He was one of 80 U.S Air Force personnel who took part in the raid in April, 1942, dropping bombs on 7 cities in Japan. Cole was the co-pilot in the lead B-25 with pilot Jimmy Doolittle that bombed Tokyo. Running out of fuel on their return, they had to bail out over China, and were helped by Chinese troops. The raid did little damage but was a major morale booster for the country during the beginning of the war, occurring only 4 months after Pearl Harbor. Cole continued to serve in the China-Burma-India Theater until 1943. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Deepest condolences to Cindy and Rich. My parents were friends with he and his wife (Dick and Marty), when they lived in Virginia. We used to visit them. They were very kind, good people. God bless the Cole family. Thank you for your honorable service, Colonel Cole.

I work for Southwest Airlines, and I had the pleasure of speaking to and booking a flight to San Antonio for a relative of Col Cole yesterday. Due to Covid they will finally be able to bring this incredible soldier home to rest in Texas soon. Thank you for your service and for our freedom!
Sending prayers to the family and friends of Col Cole. Ginger Tow, San Antonio

I work for Southwest Airlines, and I had the pleasure of speaking to and booking a flight to San Antonio for a relative of Col Cole yesterday. Due to Covid they will finally be able to bring this incredible soldier home to rest in Texas soon. Thank you for your service and for our freedom!
Sending prayers to the family and friends of Col Cole. Ginger Tow, San Antonio

Thank you for your service and thank you for all you have done for this country. You will be missed and we'll thought of.

I just now discovered Col Cole passing and I am a bit heartbroken. I was blest with the opportunity to share a few moments with Col Cole at the 70th Anniversary Reunion at Wright Patterson AFB and shared a few phone conversations with him before and after that blessed day. Tom Griffin made all of these blessings possible. I was so impressed with Col Coles humility and sense of humor. He was so easy to love. As the escorts were leading the four Raiders into the banquet hall, my friend asked...

Thank you for your service. Im proud that I had the honor to wright a letter to you, and grateful that you wrote back! Dylan

I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family for the loss of your loved one, who will be remembered for his contribution to history. May you find comfort and help in God during this time of mourning.

RIP Mr. Richard Dick Cole. I had the honor of meeting him in Oskosh at the fly-in and to the family my sympathies

Thinking of you Cindy and families of Dick. I just wrote a note.