Legendary Doolittle Raiders visit Offutt

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Almost 69 years to the day of their famous air raid on Japan, the five surviving Doolittle Raiders gathered together once again for their annual reunion, this year in Nebraska April 14-17.

Included in this year's schedule of events spread throughout Omaha and Lincoln was a visit to meet the men and women of Team Offutt here.

"It's one of the rare chances we'll probably ever get to see these great war heroes and pioneers of aviation," said Capt. Andrew Maus, a navigator and executive officer with the 55th Operations Group. "To think that we could execute the same kind of mission that these guys flew ... kind of invigorates us."

Led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, the raiders took off in 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and launched a surprise attack over Japan on April 18, 1942. The mission was a direct response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor nearly five months earlier and undoubtedly raised the morale of the United States.

"We figured it was just another bombing mission," said David Thatcher, who was an engineer-gunner on crew 7 during the raid on Japan. "We thought people would have forgotten it by now."

Not quite. The Doolittle Raiders legacy continues to live on through many books, multiple movies and in an extensive display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

And every year since 1947, these living legends have come together to commemorate their legendary bombing mission.

"We have a reunion for a couple of reasons," said Richard Cole, who was a co-pilot on crew 1 for Colonel Doolittle. "One is pay homage to our guys who are missing and another is to renew friendships. The reunion has gotten down to where it's became a family affair, because we know everyone's family."

"I'm still alive, and I'm happy to do it," said Bob Hite, a co-pilot on crew 16. "I like to visit about the old times, the takeoff times and some of the things that happened to us back in those early years."

During their visit to base the raiders toured an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint, had lunch and signed autographs for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of Team Offutt.

"They have a lot different equipment and they can do a lot more than we could do," said Thomas Griffin, who was a navigator on crew 9. "It's nice to keep up with the developments, and it's quite impressive."

"It's just an honor to see people like this here," Senior Airman Daniel McFarland, a crew chief with the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, who was on hand to answer questions from the raiders. "It makes me feel good to have someone like that thank me for what I'm doing ... and makes me want to do my job even better."

As part of the reunion five Airmen from the 55th Wing were chosen to personally escort one Doolittle Raider for the duration of their visit and they said it was something that they'll never forget.

"It was amazing," said Senior Airman Amber Huber, a resource advisor with the 97th Intelligence Squadron, who served as Mr. Thatcher's personal escort during the reunion. "I got to hear stories about the raid from the raiders themselves, and I don't think any television interview could touch the feeling I got from hearing their (personal accounts)."

The Doolittle Raider escorts were even afforded the opportunity to witness the goblet ceremony, which is an annual roll call and toast to the Doolittle Raiders who have passed away since their last meeting. The remaining raiders turn the deceased men's goblets upside down in their honor.

"The ceremony is typically only for the surviving raiders and the families of those raiders who have passed within the last year, so being invited to witness, possibly, one of the last ceremonies was a huge honor," said Airman 1st Class Paul Imm, an air traffic controller with the 55th Operations Support Squadron, who was a personal escort for Mr. Griffin during the reunion. "That experience is one that I will carry with me for the remainder of my life."

The goblet ceremony is an important part of each reunion and has been practiced since 1959.

"That was really something special for me," said Airman 1st Class Dennis Castellano, an airborne systems engineer with the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, who served as Mr. Hite's personal escort during the reunion. "To be able to hang out with them, hear them talk to each other, hear their stories, and get a real personal look at what it was like to be a Doolittle Raider, it's just been unbelievable."

While having the opportunity to meet and share time with such legendary figures in our nation's history was quite a treat for all of those in attendance, the Doolittle Raiders came away as equally impressed with the men and women representing today's armed forces.

"They're a hard working group of young people," said Edward Saylor, an engineer on crew 15. "I'm always proud of our military members."

"It's wonderful to see them and a great group of young people they are," said Mr. Griffin. "We're in good hands."

This year's visit marked the Doolittle Raiders first return to Offutt since 1976. However, some of the raiders hoped it wouldn't be their last.

"I hope we'll be able to do it many years ahead," Mr. Thatcher said.