Lunch with Col Dick Cole, Co-Pilot of Crew 1, Doolittle Raiders

Fellow Rogues,

Yesterday I had the great honor of dining at the Army Navy Club in Washington, DC with General Doolittle's co-pilot, Col Dick Cole, USAF Ret.and some of his family. His son, Rich Cole, invited a few people from NASA who would really appreciate meeting and speaking with Col Cole. I was very fortunate to be asked to attend. There were five invited guests beside the family.

Gary, my colleague at NASA GSFC, and I arrived early and waited for his arrival with his family. Col Cole had a morning tour of the NASA GSFC test facilities and really enjoyed the tours. Somehow or another I got to sit next to Col Cole during the luncheon. I plan to pass along some details of my conversation in this thread a little later.

Col Cole is now 94 years young. He does have a hearing problem but as long as you face him, he is very sharp and has a great sense of humor too! He still has that military bearing and focus and is very well spoken.
During the luncheon I became aware of sitting in the presence of living history and a true gentleman. And he has passed along those traits to his son and grandson, who is on his way to the USAF Academy very shortly.

Col Cole was kind enough to sign the photo below which is now the centerpiece of my Doolittle Raid Collection:



(Plane 40-2344). Left to right: Lt. Henry A. Potter (navigator), Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle (pilot), S/Sgt. Fred A. Braemer (bombardier), Lt. Richard E. Cole (co-pilot), S/Sgt. Paul J Leonard (engineer-gunner).

The next photo is after the luncheon with the group around Col Cole. I'm on the left next to Col Cole


Needless to say i had a great time!

 

Here's a little background on Col Cole:

Humble hero: Retired Lt. Col. Dick Cole was Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot during the World War II raid on Tokyo. But 60 years later Colonel Cole insists he only had a "bit part" in the raid | Airman | Find Articles at BNET



http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/cole.htm

 

Very impressive. Going to be hard to wipe that grin off your face for a long time. So many of the veterans who were older than the typical 19 or 20 year olds, and had a more prominant role in upper decision making, or held higher ranking positions are all gone now. So your conversation with Mr. Cole is extra special.

Greg C.

 

That would have been a great experience.

 

That's awesome, you very fortunate!

 

I promised to recount some of the conversation over lunch with Col Cole so here are a few highlights. First, let me say, Col Cole I may have hearing difficulties, but his mind is sharp as a tack and is an excellent lip reader. Rich, his son, reminded me at the rifle range a few weeks earlier of this. Indeed he is a very interesting person and a delight to converse with.
Besides being a honored WWII Vet and the co-pilot to General Doolittle’s aircraft, Col Cole’s generation was very close to my parents generation. It was difficult enough initially to speak to him about the raid, but I couldn’t help in being reminded of my parents as well. It was like talking with elder when I was much younger (this doesn’t happen often anymore at my age). Awestruck, I guess is the term I’m looking for! What got us going conversation-wise was he asked where I was from.
I told him I was from Sweetwater, TX and later Abilene. He smiled a genuine smile that was a real beam of light and said, “I used to deliver fresh fruit there from South Texas after the war. Sweetwater was our last stop before going back to South Texas to pick up another load.” I read later he had returned to active duty later in the 1940’s after the war.
I asked if he knew the identities of the two crews of the B-25s which flew off the Hornet from VA in the Atlantic in early February 1942. Col Cole said he knew that was done, but he didn’t have the names. (I’ve always felt those crews deserved some recognition even if it had to be post war).
Col Cole signed my photo of Doolittle’s crew and mentioned in passing that the bombardier, SSgt Braemer’s father was a German national and was an in an alien internment camp before the raid. Col Cole said he did a great job despite that nagging worry he must of felt. Some asked about what did attribute the success of the mission, and he was quick to state, “Colonel Doolittle!”. Always a modest man, his daughter Cindy said he always claims “he just went along for the ride!”
I asked about the bombs used in the raids and was surprised to hear that both HE and incendiary bombs were used.
The raid take-off time was advanced by several hours because two Japanese fishing trawlers (and early detection and warning ships) spotted the task force. Col Cole related that one of the boats was sunk by a bomb from a Naval aircraft while the second was sunk by Naval gunfire from the USS Nashville. Unfortunately, it took over 265 shells to sink that particular boat. Col Cole relayed that the Gunnery Sergeant had been replaced right after that poor marksmanship demonstration.
I never realized it before but each of the remaining 15 aircraft taxied into the takeoff position of crew 1 instead of using the entire deck in front of them. So they all had only 467 ft to lift off and fly. An aside to the take portion of the mission, during the run up for the last aircraft, a Navy flight deck member accidently lost an arm by stepping to a prop.
In discussing the bailouts or crashes in China after the raid, Col Cole related that one of the attempted landings resulted in both the pilot and co-pilot being thrown through the windshield.
Someone asked about Japanese reaction to the raid. Unfortunately, the Japanese took retribution on the local Chinese anywhere near the Raider’s planes. It was estimated that approximately 2500,000 Chinese were killed. The fear of this happening was the reason General Chiang Kai-shek had opposed the Doolittle Raid.
Col Cole’s daughter told the group that Col Cole and she were going to the Nation Archives in Greenbelt, MD to go through photos and film clips for Col Cole to comment and/or help in identifying people, places, and what was going on in these films or photos.
On his ranch in Texas, he does have a favorite critter: an emu!
I had a great time meeting and talking to the Coles. It was a great meal with a super family and a great American airman!

 

Thanks for sharing that with us. Made fine reading, I'll bet the meeting was "impressive" as all get out. Thanks again.

 

Thanks fro the story Tex, I oew ya on this as well.

Take care-Carl.

 

I look forward to reading the rest of this thread. I was fortunate enough to pick up a William Phillips print of the Hornet at sundown with Doolittle's aircraft lashed to the flight deck. It is signed by Col. Cole (Lt. in those days), Robert Hite (Lt. Crew 16), David J Thatcher (Sgt. Crew 7) and Tom Griffin (Lt. Crew 9). I will post a picture of it on this thread in a few.

 

Here you go Texson. It is signed by Col. Cole (Lt. in those days), Robert Hite (Lt. Crew 16), David J Thatcher (Sgt. Crew 7) and Tom Griffin (Lt. Crew 9). I found it in a small gallery in Big Bear, CA and had to have it.

View attachment 13420

 

Lucky - I feel a bit jealous now! haha

And I'm sure Colonel Cole enjoyed it as much as you did.

 

Hard to know what i'd feel except....awe...Thanks for the insight mate.
And of course he loves emus! Who wouldn't! Bit cheeky but...