Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies....

M1903A1 · 01-11-2011, 08:55 AM

http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_17061321

hotreds · 01-11-2011, 08:57 AM

RIP! One has to remember this was early in the war, so these are among the older survivors thereof.

Sled Dog · 01-11-2011, 09:10 AM

Never has there been a more important counterpunch.... in terms of morale, and sending a message. RIP

01-11-2011, 09:17 AM

Very cool. Sounds like an amazing man. The type of guy I would have loved to of met and sat down with a cold brew while he shared amazing stories of his life.

357 · 01-11-2011, 01:54 PM

Amazing story, even more amazing heroes. RIP.

maninblack · 01-11-2011, 04:18 PM

Wow another American hero passing on. RIP.

drjammer · 01-12-2011, 07:47 AM

RIP

01-12-2011, 08:32 AM

RIP Thanks for your service!

billybarue · 01-12-2011, 07:00 PM

Interesting story about the 80 silver goblets given to Gen. Doolittle. He in turn gave the case for safe keeping to the US Air Force Academy. I went to school there and saw the case many times. A contingent of cadets is commissioned to carry the case to the annual reunions. There won't be too many more, God bless them. When only two are left they will supposedly open the bottle between themselves and toast the other 78 that have preceeded them. Here's the story of the goblets :

The Doolittle Goblets and the Mystery of the Missing Brandy

The silver goblets were a gift to the Raiders from the city of Tucson, Arizona, presented to Doolittle during the Raider reunion in that city in 1959. In October of that year, during halftime of the Air Force-Colorado University football game, Doolittle turned them over to the superintendent of the Academy for safekeeping.

The portable display case currently used to transport them to annual Raider reunions was built in 1973 by Richard E. "Dick" Cole, Doolittle’s copilot during the 1942 raid.

At some point, the president of the Hennessy Company gave Doolittle a bottle of Very Special cognac, vintage 1896, the year of Doolittle’s birth. Doolittle, in turn, donated the cognac to the goblet collection with the stipulation that the last two surviving Raiders would open it to drink a final toast to their departed comrades.

The brandy and goblets, in their original gift case, were put on display at the old AFA Visitor Center. One night circa 1970, the vintage bottle of cognac disappeared. A subsequent investigation failed to identify the culprit(s). Nor has anyone ever stepped forward, even anonymously, to claim credit or accept blame.

The Hennessy Company later donated a replacement bottle of cognac, also vintage 1896, which remains in the possession of the surviving Raiders. Authorities at the Academy have been unable to produce any record as to the origin of the bottle on display in Arnold Hall until 2006 when the entire display was relocated to the AF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Here's a picture of the case and goblets:

http://www.doolittleraider.com/the_goblets.htm

The goblets that are upside down are the goblets of "Doolittle's Raiders" who have passed away. They turn them over at the annual reunions in rememberance of those who passed during the preceeding year.

01-11-2011, 08:55 AM	#1
M1903A1 Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 1060 W. Addison Posts: 1,573 Trading: (4)	Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_17061321 __________________ "It's the cigars that bring us together, but it's the people that cause us to stay."

01-11-2011, 08:57 AM	#2
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,658 Trading: (63)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... RIP! One has to remember this was early in the war, so these are among the older survivors thereof. __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

01-11-2011, 09:10 AM	#3
Sled Dog Still Watching My Back Join Date: Nov 2010 First Name: Tim Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 198 Trading: (0)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... Never has there been a more important counterpunch.... in terms of morale, and sending a message. RIP

01-11-2011, 09:17 AM	#4
Tyler Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... Very cool. Sounds like an amazing man. The type of guy I would have loved to of met and sat down with a cold brew while he shared amazing stories of his life.

01-11-2011, 01:54 PM	#5
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... Amazing story, even more amazing heroes. RIP. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

01-11-2011, 04:18 PM	#6
maninblack Will smoke for food Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Kevin Location: Where the hoot owls f$ck the chickens Posts: 10,637 Trading: (80)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... Wow another American hero passing on. RIP. __________________ Proud member of the GMCGTPWHAFA

01-12-2011, 07:47 AM	#7
drjammer I love Hockey!!! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Don Location: Colorado Posts: 284 Trading: (0)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... RIP __________________ Thanks for the memories Joe Sakic & Adam Foote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIj3kpPYh1M

01-12-2011, 08:32 AM	#8
mpd340 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... RIP Thanks for your service!

01-12-2011, 07:00 PM	#9
billybarue Still Watching My Back Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 226 Trading: (5)	Re: Last surviving pilot of the Doolittle Raiders dies.... Interesting story about the 80 silver goblets given to Gen. Doolittle. He in turn gave the case for safe keeping to the US Air Force Academy. I went to school there and saw the case many times. A contingent of cadets is commissioned to carry the case to the annual reunions. There won't be too many more, God bless them. When only two are left they will supposedly open the bottle between themselves and toast the other 78 that have preceeded them. Here's the story of the goblets : The Doolittle Goblets and the Mystery of the Missing Brandy The silver goblets were a gift to the Raiders from the city of Tucson, Arizona, presented to Doolittle during the Raider reunion in that city in 1959. In October of that year, during halftime of the Air Force-Colorado University football game, Doolittle turned them over to the superintendent of the Academy for safekeeping. The portable display case currently used to transport them to annual Raider reunions was built in 1973 by Richard E. "Dick" Cole, Doolittle’s copilot during the 1942 raid. At some point, the president of the Hennessy Company gave Doolittle a bottle of Very Special cognac, vintage 1896, the year of Doolittle’s birth. Doolittle, in turn, donated the cognac to the goblet collection with the stipulation that the last two surviving Raiders would open it to drink a final toast to their departed comrades. The brandy and goblets, in their original gift case, were put on display at the old AFA Visitor Center. One night circa 1970, the vintage bottle of cognac disappeared. A subsequent investigation failed to identify the culprit(s). Nor has anyone ever stepped forward, even anonymously, to claim credit or accept blame. The Hennessy Company later donated a replacement bottle of cognac, also vintage 1896, which remains in the possession of the surviving Raiders. Authorities at the Academy have been unable to produce any record as to the origin of the bottle on display in Arnold Hall until 2006 when the entire display was relocated to the AF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB. Here's a picture of the case and goblets: http://www.doolittleraider.com/the_goblets.htm The goblets that are upside down are the goblets of "Doolittle's Raiders" who have passed away. They turn them over at the annual reunions in rememberance of those who passed during the preceeding year.