News United States Air Force
 AFSOC, FWB Chamber of Commerce host final Doolittle Raiders ceremony, aerial reviewPublished April 20, 2022
                        
                        By Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau
                        
                        
                        Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
                **NICEVILLE, Fla. (AFNS) --**
                The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with**Air Force Special Operations Command**, hosted the final Doolittle Raiders Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, April 18. 
 The ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the**Doolittle Raid**and also honored the legacy ofretired Col. Dick Cole, the last Raider to **pass away**April 9, 2019.The Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall III, speaks during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida, April 18, 2022. The ceremony marked the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, which was the first air operation to directly strike the mainland of Japan during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fla., April 18, 2022. The ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, which was the first air operation to directly strike the mainland of Japan during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










The Doolittle Raid was an**air raid**on April 18, 1942, by the U.S. on the Japanese capital of Tokyo to boost American morale and demonstrate Japan’s vulnerability to air attacks following the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Secretary of the Air Force**Frank Kendall**;Air Force Chief of Staff **Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.**;**Lt. Gen. JimSlife**, commander ofAFSOC; and **Lt. Gen. Brad Webb**, commander of**Air Education and Training Command**, all participated in the historic ceremony attended by almost 1,300 Airmen, community members and elected officials. 
 “I can’t tell you how privileged and honored I am to be here for such a special occasion,” Kendall said. “The Raiders led the way, and many have followed. For the past 75 years, we see that the selfless spirit that the Raiders flew with has passed from generation to generation and still exists today in our Air and**Space Forces**. Like many of the greatest generation, they saw it as their duty and accepted it without any regret.” 
 During the ceremony, 16 local active duty members and veterans were honored to represent the legacy of each Doolittle crew and the contributions of an untold number of fellow Airmen to recognize the **75th anniversary**of the Air Force. 
 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., speaks during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida, April 18, 2022. On April 18, 1942, Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces flew 16 North American B-25 medium bombers aboard the U.S. Navy carrier USS Hornet to a location within take-off distance from the Japanese islands for a direct air operation against Tokyo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., speaks during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fla., April 18, 2022. On April 18, 1942, Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces flew 16 North American B-25 medium bombers aboard the U.S. Navy carrier USS Hornet to a location within take-off distance from the Japanese islands for a direct air operation against Tokyo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A photo of Col. (ret.) Dick Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, is on display during the final Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida, April 18, 2022. The ceremony marked the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, which was the first air operation to directly strike the mainland of Japan during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)A photo of retired Col. Dick Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, sits on display during the final Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fla., April 18, 2022. The ceremony marked the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, which was the first air operation to directly strike the mainland of Japan during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (ret.) Richard Cole, son of Col. (ret.) Dick Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, salutes his father’s goblet during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida, April 18, 1942. On April 18, 1942, Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces flew 16 North American B-25 medium bombers aboard the U.S. Navy carrier USS Hornet to a location within take-off distance from the Japanese islands for a direct air operation against Tokyo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, son of retired Col. Dick Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, salutes his father’s goblet during the Doolittle Raider Goblet Ceremony at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fla., April 18, 1942. On April 18, 1942, Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces flew 16 North American B-25 medium bombers aboard the U.S. Navy carrier USS Hornet to a location within take-off distance from the Japanese islands for a direct air operation against Tokyo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
“For many years, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and many retirees have called the greater Fort Walton Beach area home,” said Ted Corcoran, president and chief executive officer of the Greater FWB Chamber of Commerce. “During that time, our local military community has participated in combat operations spanning the globe. So today, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Air Force, we would like to recognize the significant contributions they’ve made to our national defense.”Brown spoke about how Cole and his brothers laid the foundation for what it means to serve in the United Statesarmed forces. 
 “Jimmy Doolittle oncesaid, ‘Nothing is as strong as the heart of a volunteer’,” Brown said. “The Doolittle Raiders are the perfect example of volunteers with the strongest of hearts. I am incredibly humbled to be here to pay tribute to Colonel Cole. These men volunteered to fly off the deck of a Navy carrier into the unknown, never knowing if they would see their loved ones again.” 
 Cole’s son,retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, and daughter, Cindy Cole Chal, **performed the ritual**of turning over their father’s goblet – the final goblet to be turned. 
 


    
    Four vintage U.S. Army Air Forces perform a missing man formation during an aerial review in honor of the Doolittle Raiders over Okaloosa Island, Florida, April 18, 2022. The review featured 30 vintage and current U.S. Air Force aircraft and included a B-25 Mitchell bomber, a B-52 Stratofortress, an F-22 Raptor, and an F-35 Lightning II among others. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)Four vintage U.S. Army Air Forces aircraft perform a missing man formation during an aerial review in honor of the Doolittle Raiders over Okaloosa Island, Fla., April 18, 2022. The review featured 30 vintage and current U.S. Air Force aircraft including a B-25 Mitchell, B-52 Stratofortress, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, among others. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    









“On behalf of the Cole family and all the Raider families, we want to extend our deepest appreciation to all of you for your love and support over the years,” Cole said. “Thank you for always taking the time to remember the Raiders and helping to carry out the legacy of this historic mission.” Afterthe ceremony, an aerial review took place over Okaloosa Island featuring 30 vintage and current U.S. Air Force aircraft, including a **B-25 Mitchell**,**B-52 Stratofortress**,**F-22 Raptor**and**F-35 Lightning II**,among others. 
 The 80 Doolittle Raider goblets are**permanently displayed**at the**National Museum of the United States Air Force**at**Wright Patterson AirForceBase**, Ohio.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



doolittle raiders 



Doolittle Raid 



Col. Dick Cole 



SecAF 



Frank Kendall 



CSAF 



Gen. CQ Brown Jr 



af75 



ceremony 



Fort Walton Beach 



Florida 



history 



One Air Force 



B-25 Mitchell 



B-52 Stratofortress 



F-22 Raptor 



F-35 Lightning II 



AFSOC 



Lt. Gen. Jim Slife 



Lt. Gen. Brad Webb 



final goblet Related Links
        Ellsworth AFB celebrates 80th anniversary of Doolittle Raid