Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, center, salutes as members of the Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard render military honors during a funeral service in honor of Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher June 27, 2016, in Missoula, Mont. Thatcher was the second to last remaining Doolittle Raider and is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Air Force Silver Star. His other decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Chinese Army, Navy and Air Corps Medal. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)Montana's last Doolittle Raider honored
                        
                        
                        Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, center, salutes as members of the Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard render military honors during a funeral service in honor of former Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher on June 27, 2016, in Missoula, Mont. Thatcher was the second to last remaining Doolittle Raider and is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Air Force Silver Star. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Lt. Col. Michael Epper, 341st Force Support Squadron commander, presents the flag to Dawn Thatcher, wife of Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, during a funeral service June 27 in Missoula, Mont. At 20 years old, Sgt. Thatcher was an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids. His crew crash-landed into sea off the coast of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)Montana's last Doolittle Raider honored
                        
                        
                        Lt. Col. Michael Epper, the 341st Force Support Squadron commander, presents the American flag to Dawn Thatcher, wife of former Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, during a funeral service June 27, 2016, in Missoula, Mont. At 20 years old, Thatcher was an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids. His crew crash-landed into sea off the coast of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A B-1 Lancer from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., performs a slow-speed flyover in honor of Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher June 27, 2016, in Missoula, Mont. At 20 years old, and as an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids, Thatcher’s crew crash-landed into sea off the coast of China April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)Montana's last Doolittle Raider honored
                        
                        
                        A B-1B Lancer from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., performs a flyover in honor of former Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher on June 27, 2016, in Missoula, Mont. At 20 years old, and as an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids, Thatcher’s crew crash-landed into sea off the coast of China April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Montana's last Doolittle Raider honoredPublished June 28, 2016
                    
                    By 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe
                    
                    
                    341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
            **MISSOULA, Mont. (AFNS) --**Seventy-four years after the historic Doolittle Tokyo Raid, former Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, one of two remaining Doolittle Raiders, was laid to rest June 27 in Missoula. 
Thatcher, 94, received military honors and multiple aircraft flyovers at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery. 
Air Force officials, friends and family from across the country attended the ceremony. Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, also attended. 
The Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard rendered respects as a symbol of Thatcher's legacy of promoting the mission and preserving a rich heritage.
Six Airmen carried the American flag-draped casket to Thatcher's resting place. A seven-member firing party delivered a 21-gun salute against the mountain backdrop, into the crisp blue horizon, giving Thatcher a final farewell as he was laid to rest.
The sound of taps echoed forlornly off nearby trees, while Airmen carefully folded the flag 13 times, leaving only the visible blue field with stars representing Thatcher's service.
Dawn, Thatcher's wife of 70 years, received the flag from an Airman presented on behalf of the president of the U.S., the Air Force and a grateful nation for his honorable and faithful service.
"My father was a very gentle, humble and compassionate individual," said Jeff, Thatcher's son and president of Children of the Doolittle Raiders. "He was full of dignity and grace, with the soul of an angel and heart of a lion."
A B-1B Lancer from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and a B-25 Mitchell performed flyovers in Thatcher's honor.
Ellsworth AFB has a strong tie to the Doolittle Raiders. It is home to three of the four original squadrons that participated in the historic raid: the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons and the 89th Attack Squadron.
Thatcher was the last surviving Doolittle Raider from Montana.  **The Doolittle Raid**
The Doolittle Tokyo Raid was a part of early World War II efforts to turn the tide, increase morale and display a show of force to Japan and the world. Eighty men in 16 different B-25 bombers participated in the historic raid.
Sixteen crews took off from the USS Hornet (CV-8), led by Col. Jimmy Doolittle and flew over Japan's main island of Honshu and dropped bombs on vital defense resources within Tokyo. 
The plan was to land in a part of China not infiltrated with enemy soldiers after completing the mission.
At 20 years old, as an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7, Thatcher took to the skies in a B-25 named Ruptured Duck.
The crew crash-landed into the sea off the coast of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself.
"I had a bird's eye view as I was in the turret on top, I could see in every direction. It was a beautiful day when we came in over the beach. Before we reached Tokyo, there were six airplanes in formation that came toward us," Thatcher said in a 2015 interview. "We were flying so low in formation that I'm sure they didn't see us."
Seven men never made it home, but the sacrifice of those brave aviators and the remaining 72 men have been celebrated in time honored, custom rich memorials and toasts every year since.**The greatest generation**
Often referred to as the greatest generation, young men from all across the U.S. stood ready to fight a war in arguably the most difficult time America has ever seen. 
Thatcher was among those brave men.
He graduated from high school and enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps on Dec. 3, 1940. Thatcher completed the airplane and engine mechanic course in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was prepared for war.
In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Thatcher was a part of 25 missions to include the Doolittle Tokyo Raids, the first bombing in Rome and operations in both England and Africa.
The humble veteran was often quoted saying he "was only doing (his) job."
In 1944, Thatcher returned to Missoula, got married and worked as a clerk and postman.
Thatcher is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Air Force Silver Star. His other decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Chinese Army, Navy and Air Corps Medal.
"Be prepared for anything you might run into. We weren't," said Thatcher when offered the opportunity to give Airmen a piece of advice April 17, 2015.
Thatcher's death leaves a legacy of honor for Air Force history and an overwhelming sense of pride in his closest family and friends.David J. Thatcher 



doolittle raiders 



WWII 



AFGSC Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil