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      Attendees bow their heads during the invocation at a memorial service for retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.190418-OH119-0028
                        
                        
                        Attendees bow their heads during the invocation at a memorial service for retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, was the co-pilot on a B-25 Mitchell for then-Col. Jimmy Doolittle during the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo Raid and was a founding Airman of the USAF Special Operations community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tristin English)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        The family of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Goldein, and Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson watch the T-38C Talon Missing Man flyover during a memorial service celebrating Cole's life at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.190418-FD742-1000
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and memorial attendees watch flyover during a memorial service celebrating the life of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, was the co-pilot on a B-25 Mitchell for then-Col. Jimmy Doolittle during the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo Raid. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sean Worrell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks to attendees at the memorial service to celebrate the life of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.190418-FD742-0627
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks to attendees at the memorial service to celebrate the life of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, was the co-pilot on a B-25 Mitchell for then-Col. Jimmy Doolittle during the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo Raid. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sean M. Worrell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Richard Cole, son of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, speaks to attendees during a memorial service for his father at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.190418-F-YQ806-0173
                        
                        
                        Richard Cole, son of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, speaks to attendees during a memorial service for his father at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.  The last surviving Doolittle Raider and a founding Airman of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations community, Cole passed away April 9 in San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Aaron Cole, a grandson of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, sings the national anthem during a memorial service for his grandfather at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019.190418-F-YQ806-0104
                        
                        
                        Aaron Cole, a grandson of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole, sings the national anthem during a memorial service for his grandfather at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, was among 80 Airmen who took part in the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo Raid and was a founding Airman of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Doolittle, a descendant of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, sings “America the Beautiful” during a memorial service celebrating the life of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas April 18, 2019.190418-F-YQ806-0302
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Michelle Doolittle, a descendant of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, sings “America the Beautiful” during a memorial service celebrating the life of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, April 18, 2019. Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, was the co-pilot on a B-25 Mitchell for then-Col. Jimmy Doolittle during the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo Raid. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein addresses the family of retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole during a memorial service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas April 18, 2019.190418-F-YQ806-0258
                        
                        
                        Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein addresses the family of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole during a memorial service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas April 18, 2019. Cole was the last surviving Doolittle Raider who took part in the storied World War II raid on Tokyo and was a founding Airman of the U. S. Air Force Special Operations community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Final Doolittle Raider’s tradition of honor, legacy of valor celebrated at memorialPublished April 19, 2019
                    
                    By Dan Hawkins
                    
                    
                    Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --**The tradition of honor and legacy of valor that defined the life of retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” E. Cole were celebrated during a memorial service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, April 18.
On the day marking the 77th anniversary of the storied World War II Doolittle Tokyo raid and in a hangar surrounded by vintage aircraft linked to the Doolittle Raider’s career, Cole’s family and friends, Air Force senior leaders, and Airmen of all ranks gathered to recognize the accomplishments of the humble warrior from Ohio who answered his nation’s call in America’s darkest days.
After a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Cole’s grandson Aaron, Rich Cole, Lt. Col. Cole’s son and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel like his father, spoke passionately about his father and his willingness to be a wingman and leader, defending his country with his life.
“All the (Doolittle Raiders) thought they were doing their job and they didn’t expect the adoration they got when they returned home,” Rich Cole said. “One of the greatest lessons my dad imparted on us was that being willing to do something impossible and die for your country was an honorable thing.”
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson talked to those gathered about the strategic importance of the Doolittle Raiders and their risky mission to fly, fight and win in retaliation against Japan for their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor just months earlier.
“(The Raiders) planned the unthinkable,” Wilson said. “To strike Tokyo from an aircraft carrier...with a land-based bomber. If the 16-ship package had been discovered by Japanese subs, it could have ended what was left of the U.S. fleet in the Pacific.”
Wilson recounted how Cole once described heroes as those “who took risks that brought about important consequences,” but never counted himself among them.
“When America was at its lowest point, it needed a hero,” Wilson said. “(America) found 80 of them who put the country on their back and flew straight into the heart of the enemy. For this, we will never forget.”
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told the audience several stories centered on Cole and how unassuming he was about his career, which included becoming one of the first air commandos in the U.S. special operations community, viewing his own place in history simply as someone doing their job as part of the big picture.
“(Cole) and the Doolittle Raiders made the impossible, possible since 1942 as pioneers of global strike,” Goldfein said. “On that fateful day, Col. Cole and his fellow wingmen cemented the very notion of joint airpower with the clear statement that America’s Air Force can hold any target at risk anywhere, anytime.”

Acknowledging the Cole family’s loss, the chief of staff spoke to Cole’s significant contributions to our nation’s defense and lifetime place in the Air Force family as “one of the rare giants of the Greatest Generation.”
“(Cole’s) legacy will endure because as long as there is a United States Air Force, Airmen will toast him and his fellow Doolittle Raiders,” Goldfein said. “We are better prepared today to defend our great nation because of him...and because of you.”
Staff Sgt. Michelle Doolittle from the Band of the Golden West based at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., then sang “America the Beautiful” with backup from the Band of the West’s Freedom Brass quintet from JBSA-Lackland.
The performance held special meaning to the family with Staff Sgt. Doolittle being a descendant of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, who led the raid on Tokyo and flew with Cole in Aircraft No. 1 in the B-25 Mitchell formation off the deck off the U.S.S. Hornet.
The city of San Antonio, represented by Mayor Ron Nirenberg, then presented the Cole family with a resolution of respect for Cole’s military service and record of personal sacrifice in helping others, as well as acknowledging Cole’s deep ties to the San Antonio area and expressing their condolences over his passing.
Even after retirement from the service in 1966, Cole never left his fellow Airmen behind, representing the Air Force and the Doolittle Raiders at events around the country, promoting the spirit of service and heritage among new generations of Airmen.
“The Doolittle Foundation Scholarship foundation was extremely important to my dad,” Rich Cole said. “He spent the last 50 years of his life raising awareness and donations for the scholarship; it really was his way of not only giving back to Gen. (Jimmy) Doolittle’s memory, but to the Air Force.”
After a final salute to the Doolittle Raider from his son, and with “Amazing Grace” wafting over the hangar from a ceremonial bagpipe, guests were ushered outside for flybys from aircraft with historical significance and ties to Cole, including an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft from his days with the 95th Bombardment Squadron; a B-52 Stratofortress bomber; a historic B-25 Mitchell bomber; and finally a “Missing Man” formation flown by T-38C Talons from the 12th Flying Training Wing.doolittle raiders 



memorial 



AETC 



Air Education and Training Command 



AF 



Air Force 



SecAF 



tradition 



legacy 



honor 



valor 



WWII 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