Richard ‘Dick’ Cole, the last surviving member of the Doolitle Raid, has passed away aged 103.
The Doolitle Raid, which took place on April 18, 1942, was a retaliation attack by the United States after the Japanese action on Pearl Harbour five months prior. The raid caused little material damage to Japan, but signified a huge morale boost for the United States after the humiliating defeat at Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941.
Cole flew right next to Lt. Col. Doolitle himself in one of the sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers that took part on the mission.
The veteran airman died peacefully in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 103.
