75 years ago today, 16 B-25 Mitchell Bombers and 80 Airmen along with the sailors of the USS Hornet (CV-8) took off on what most considered an impossible mission. Fly these light bombers off the deck of the carrier and bomb military targets in Japan. Led by LTC Jimmy Doolittle, the bombing did very little actual damage to the targets in Japan, but the boost it gave to the morale of the U.S., still reeling from the attack on Pearl harbor was immeasurable. Every year after the war, the surviving Doolittle Raiders would get together to catch up and remember their accomplishments. All of the Raiders were had a silver cup with their names etched on it. As a Raider died, their cup was turned upside down. Today, 79 of the 80 cups are turned upside down. Only one of the original 80 Raiders is alive, Colonel Richard E. Cole, copilot of aircraft No. 1 who is 101 years old. Let us all raise our glass today for the Doolittle Raiders and remember their heroic achievement 75 years ago today.
