Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal Presentation at the NMUSAF

[Zack Baughman]

I was privileged to have attended the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Congressional Gold Medal presentation at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio over the weekend. Congress awarded the medal on Wednesday April 15 with Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, Director of the NMUSAF accepting on behalf of the Raiders. On Saturday April 18, the medal was placed aboard the B-25 Mitchell "Panchito" and flown to Wright-Patterson AFB where it was delivered to the museum. That evening, the two surviving Raiders, Col. Dick Cole and Sgt. David Thatcher, were on hand to officially present the medal to the NMUSAF for permanent display and safe keeping. It was a fantastic event and I'm thrilled to have been able to attend. The most striking moment was during Col. Cole's brief speech in which he stated, "73 years ago, about this same time in the evening, David Thatcher was saving his crew on a beach and I was hanging from my parachute in a tree." Goosebumps at that! Here are some photos from the event (with apologies for the quality - they were taken on a phone).

Col. Cole arrives.
4690

Sgt. Thatcher arrives.
4691

Col. Cole presents the medal to Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, Director of the NMUSAF
4692

The medal - front.
4693

The medal - back.
4694

The Doolittle Tokyo Raider goblets. One goblet for each of the 80 men who participated in the raid (16 airplanes with 5 crewmen each). Only the goblets of the surviving Raiders are upright.
4695

Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle's goblet.
4696

The bottle of Hennessy cognac used in the final toast between Thatcher and Cole.
4697

Some of the mixed drinks available at the reception.
4698

And finally, the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders exhibit.
4699