Editing Doolittle Raid (section)

== After the war ==
[[File:Doolittle Raider reunion - Ft. Walton (1957).jpg|thumb|Members of the Doolittle Raid at the 15th anniversary reunion at [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]], in 1957]]
[[File:McCalpin and Cole 66th anniversary.jpg|thumb|WWII Army veteran George A. McCalpin (right) talking to Lt. Col. [[Richard E. Cole]] (seated) about McCalpin's cousin, raider [[William John Dieter|Sgt. William 'Billy Jack' Dieter]], at the 66th anniversary reunion at the University of Texas at Dallas in April 2008]]
{{external media| float = right| width=230px | video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?195338-2/doolittle-raiders Panel discussion with William Bower, Richard E. Cole, Thomas Griffin, Edwin Horton, and C. V. Glines, 10 November 2006], [[C-SPAN]]}}

The Doolittle Raiders held an annual reunion almost every year from the late 1940s to 2013. The high point of each reunion was a solemn, private ceremony in which the surviving Raiders performed a roll call, then [[Toast (honor)|toasted]] their fellow Raiders who had died during the previous year. Specially engraved silver [[Chalice|goblets]], one for each of the 80 Raiders, were used for this toast; the goblets of those who had died were inverted. Each Raider's name was engraved on his goblet both right side up and upside down. The Raiders drank a toast using a bottle of [[cognac (drink)|cognac]] that accompanied the goblets to each Raider reunion.<ref>Rightmyer, Don. [http://stories.usafa73.org/1rightmyer.html "A Gut Check of Sorts: The Doolittle Brandy"]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204801/http://stories.usafa73.org/1rightmyer.html |date=22 February 2014 }} USAFA Class of 1973. Retrieved 27 January 2015.</ref> In 2013, the remaining Raiders decided to hold their last public reunion at [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]], not far from Eglin Air Force Base, where they trained for the original mission. The bottle and the goblets had been maintained by the [[United States Air Force Academy]] on display in [[Hap Arnold|Arnold]] Hall, the cadet social center, until 2006. On 19 April 2006, these [[memorabilia]] were transferred to the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] at [[Wright-Patterson AFB]], Ohio.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15406 " 'Doolittle Goblets' Find New Home"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070414002417/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15406 |date=14 April 2007 }}. ''Department of Defense News''. Retrieved 24 April 2010.</ref>

On 18 April 2013, a final reunion for the surviving Raiders was held at Eglin Air Force Base, with Robert Hite the only survivor unable to attend.<ref>Nelson-Gabriel, Melissa. [http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/04/18/doolittle-raiders-hold-final-reunion.html "Doolittle Raiders hold final reunion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708125850/http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/04/18/doolittle-raiders-hold-final-reunion.html |date=8 July 2013 }}. Military.com, 15 February 2014.</ref>

The "final toast to fallen comrades" by the surviving raiders took place at the NMUSAF on 9 November 2013, preceded by a B-25 flyover, and was attended by Richard Cole, Edward Saylor, and David Thatcher.<ref>Kenney, Jerry. [https://www.npr.org/2013/11/11/244452597/doolittle-raiders-dwindle-in-numbers "Doolittle Raiders Offer Final Toast To 71-Year-Old Mission"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225101/http://www.npr.org/2013/11/11/244452597/doolittle-raiders-dwindle-in-numbers |date=24 September 2017 }}. NPR. Retrieved 21 November 2013.</ref>

Seven other men, including Lt. Miller and raider historian Col. Carroll V. Glines, are considered honorary Raiders for their efforts for the mission.<ref name="bravemen" />

The Children of the Doolittle Raiders organization was founded on 18 April 2006, authorized by the Doolittle Raiders organization and the surviving members at the time. Descendants of the Doolittle Raiders organize fundraisers for a scholarship fund and continue to organize the Doolittle Raiders reunions. The 2019 reunion was held at Lt. Col. [[Richard E. Cole]]'s memorial service.<ref name="nwfdailynews">{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Kaylin |date=18 April 2019 |title=Family members, guests toast Doolittle Raiders at Air Force Armament Museum |work=Northwest Florida Daily News |url=https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20190418/family-members-guests-toast-doolittle-raiders-at-air-force-armament-museum |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730011854/https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20190418/family-members-guests-toast-doolittle-raiders-at-air-force-armament-museum |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Last surviving airmen===
Col. [[Bill Bower]], the last surviving Doolittle raider aircraft commander, died on 10 January 2011 at age 93 in [[Boulder, Colorado]].<ref name=camera>{{cite news |author=<!-- staff writer; no by-line.--> |title=Col. William Marsh 'Bill' Bower, February 13, 1917 – January 10, 2011 |department=Obituaries |date=12 January 2011 |work=[[Boulder Daily Camera]] |url=https://www.dailycamera.com/2011/01/10/col-william-marsh-bill-bower/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095353/http://www.dailycamera.com/obits/ci_17057961?source=most_emailed |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=wp>Rees Shapiro, T. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011306740.html "Bill Bower, last surviving bomber pilot of WWII Doolittle Raid, dies at 93"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110003640/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011306740.html |date=10 January 2019 }}. ''[[The Washington Post]]'', 15 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011.</ref>

Lt. Col. [[Edward Saylor]], the then-enlisted engineer/gunner of aircraft No. 15 during the raid, died 28 January 2015 of natural causes at his home in [[Sumner, Washington]], at the age of 94.<ref name=latimes>Chawkins, Steve. [http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-edward-saylor-20150203-story.html "Edward Saylor dies at 94; Doolittle Raider who flew risky WWII raid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210233155/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-edward-saylor-20150203-story.html |date=10 February 2015 }}. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 2 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.</ref>

Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, co-pilot of aircraft No. 16, died at a nursing home in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], at the age of 95 on 29 March 2015.<ref name="Times-Hite obit">{{cite news |title=Robert Hite, 95, Survivor of Doolittle Raid and Japanese Imprisonment, Dies |last=Roberts |first=Sam |date=30 March 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/us/robert-l-hite-survivor-of-doolittle-raid-and-japanese-imprisonment-dies-at-95.html |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105235031/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/us/robert-l-hite-survivor-of-doolittle-raid-and-japanese-imprisonment-dies-at-95.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=foxnews>[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/30/lt-col-robert-hite-doolittle-tokyo-raiders-dies-at-5/?intcmp=latestnews "Lt. Col. Robert Hite, of 'Doolittle Tokyo Raiders,' dead at 95"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331052023/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/30/lt-col-robert-hite-doolittle-tokyo-raiders-dies-at-5/?intcmp=latestnews |date=31 March 2015 }}. Fox News, 30 March 2015.</ref> Hite was the last living prisoner of the Doolittle Raid.

S/Sgt. David J. Thatcher, gunner of aircraft No. 7, died on 22 June 2016 in [[Missoula, Montana]], at the age of 94.

Lt Col. [[Richard E. Cole]], Doolittle's copilot in aircraft No. 1, was the last surviving Doolittle Raider<ref>Joyce, Todd. [http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/cole.htm "Richard E. Cole, 0-421602, Colonel, Co-Pilot Crew 1"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009120546/http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/cole.htm |date=9 October 2012 }}. Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.</ref> and the only one to live to an older age than Doolittle, who died in 1993 at age 96.{{refn|group=note |Frank Kappeler and Thomas Griffin also lived to age 96, but did not live as many months as Doolittle.}} Cole was the only Raider still alive when the wreckage of ''Hornet'' was found in late January 2019 by the [[research vessel]] {{RV|Petrel||2}} at a depth of more than {{convert|17000|ft}} off the Solomon Islands.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wreckage of World War II aircraft carrier USS ''Hornet'' discovered|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uss-hornet-wreckage-world-war-two-warship-discovered/|website=CBS News|date=12 February 2019|access-date=12 February 2019|archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026145829/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uss-hornet-wreckage-world-war-two-warship-discovered/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cole died 9 April 2019, at the age of 103.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1809760/lt-col-dick-cole-last-surviving-doolittle-raider-passes-away-at-age-103/|title=Lt Col Dick Cole, last surviving Doolittle Raider, passes away at age 103|last=Stephens|first=Andrew|date=9 April 2019|work=Af.mil|publisher=United Air Force|access-date=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410112945/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1809760/lt-col-dick-cole-last-surviving-doolittle-raider-passes-away-at-age-103/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Doolittle Raid exhibits===
The most extensive display of Doolittle Raid memorabilia is at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] (on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) in [[Dayton, Ohio]]. The centerpiece is a like-new B-25, which is painted and marked as Doolittle's aircraft, ''40-2344'', (rebuilt by [[North American Aviation]] to B-25B configuration from an F-10D photo reconnaissance version of the B-25D). The bomber, which North American Aviation presented to the Raiders in 1958, rests on a reproduction of ''Hornet''{{'}}s flight deck. Several authentically dressed mannequins surround the aircraft, including representations of Doolittle, ''Hornet'' Captain [[Marc Mitscher]], and groups of Army and Navy men loading the bomber's bombs and ammunition. Also exhibited are the silver goblets used by the Raiders at each of their annual reunions, pieces of flight clothing and personal equipment, a parachute used by one of the Raiders in his bailout over China, and group photographs of all 16 crews, and other items.

The last B-25 to be retired from the U.S. Air Force inventory is displayed at the [[Air Force Armament Museum]] at Eglin AFB, also in the markings of Gen. Doolittle's aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |department=Special |title=B-25 Makes Last Flight During Ceremony at Eglin |newspaper=Playground Daily News |location=Fort Walton Beach, Florida |date=26 May 1960 |volume=15 |number=17 (actually No. 18) |page=2}}</ref>

A fragment of the wreckage of one of the aircraft, and the medals awarded to Doolittle, are on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] [[National Air and Space Museum]] in Washington, DC.

The 2006 [[Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor]] on [[Ford Island]], [[Oahu|Oʻahu]], Hawaii, also has a 1942 exhibit in which the centerpiece is a restored B-25 in the markings of ''The Ruptured Duck'' used on the Doolittle Raid.<ref>[http://www.pacificaviationmuseum.org/exhibits/aircrafts.html "B-25 Mitchell"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103043045/http://pacificaviationmuseum.org/exhibits/aircrafts.html |date=3 November 2010 }}. Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. Retrieved 14 November 2010.</ref>

The [[San Marcos, Texas]], chapter of the [[Commemorative Air Force]] has in its museum the [[armor plate]] from the pilot seat of the B-25 Doolittle flew in the raid.

The interchange of Edmund Highway (South Carolina 302) and [[Interstate 26 in South Carolina|Interstate 26]] nearest the former [[Columbia Army Air Base]] is designated the Doolittle Raiders Interchange.

In [[China]], a memorial hall honoring the Doolittle Raiders and the Chinese who provided them with assistance in aftermath of the raid is located at the city of [[Jiangshan]] in [[Quzhou, Zhejiang]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/nov/11/china-the-second-time-around-20181111/|title=China, the second time around|first=Jeff|last=Thatcher|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat Gazette|date=2018-11-11|access-date=2022-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zhejiang.chinadaily.com.cn/equzhou/2018-10/26/c_300997.htm|title=Airman's daughter thankful to museum|first=Zhenhuan|last=Ma|newspaper=China Daily|date=2018-10-26|access-date=2022-12-16}}</ref>
[[File:Doolittle exhibit at Hornet Museum.jpg|thumb|Doolittle Exhibit aboard USS ''Hornet'' Museum - August, 2015]]
A small exhibit about the Doolittle Raid exists (or used to?) at the [https://uss-hornet.org/ USS ''Hornet'' Museum] in Alameda, California.

=== Doolittle Raiders re-enactment ===
[[File:USS Ranger (CV-61) B-25 Mitchell Doolittle reenactment.jpg|thumb|The restored World War II B-25 ''Heavenly Body'' taking off from the deck of {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|2}}]]
On 21 April 1992, in conjunction with other Department of Defense World War II 50th-Anniversary Commemorative Events, two B-25 Mitchell bombers, B-25J ''Heavenly Body'' and B-25J ''In The Mood'', were hoisted aboard {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|6}}. The bombers participated in a commemorative re-enactment of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, taking off from ''Ranger''{{'}}s flight deck before more than 1,500 guests.<ref name="USS Ranger Legacy">{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=66 |title= USS Ranger (CVA-61) |publisher= US Navy Legacy |date= 15 June 2009 |access-date= 20 September 2016 |archive-date= 11 December 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161211205515/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=66 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The launch took place off the coast of San Diego.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2017/04/07/in-1992-doolittle-raid-revisited/|title=The Sextant – 'In 1992, Doolittle Raid revisited'|access-date=9 February 2020|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729234308/https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2017/04/07/in-1992-doolittle-raid-revisited/|url-status=live}}</ref> Four B-25s were approved by the US Navy for the reenactment with two selected. The other two participants were B-25J ''Executive Sweet'' and B-25J ''Pacific Princess''. Following the launch, eight B-25s flew up the coast where General Doolittle and his son John P. Doolittle watched as each B-25 came in for a low pass, dropping 250 red, white, and blue carnations into the surf, concluding the event.

=== Congressional Gold Medal ===
[[File:Doolittle Raiders Congressional Gold Medal.jpg|thumb|Doolittle Raiders Lt. Col. Richard Cole, co-pilot of Crew No. 1 (right), and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, engineer-gunner of Crew No. 7, with the Congressional Gold Medal (2015)]]
On 19 May 2014, the [[United States House of Representatives]] passed {{USBill|113|H.R.|1209}}, to award the Doolittle Raiders a [[Congressional Gold Medal]] for "outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo."<ref name=1209sum>[http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1209 "H.R. 1209 – Summary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031215/http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1209 |date=21 May 2014 }}. United States Congress. Retrieved 20 May 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Marcos |first=Cristina |title=House votes to award medals to 'Monuments Men,' Jack Nicklaus |date=19 May 2014 |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/206578-house-votes-to-award-medals-to-monuments-men-jack-nicklaus/ |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520065531/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/206578-house-votes-to-award-medals-to-monuments-men-jack-nicklaus |url-status=live }}</ref> The award ceremony took place at the Capitol Building on 15 April 2015 with retired Air Force Lieutenant General John Hudson, the Director of the National Museum of the Air Force, accepting the award on behalf of the Doolittle Raiders.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ingalsbe |first=Torri |title=Doolittle Tokyo Raiders receive Congressional Gold Medal |date=16 April 2015 |publisher=U.S. Air Force |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/585303/doolittle-tokyo-raiders-receive-congressional-gold-medal/ |access-date=5 October 2020 |quote=... Lt. Gen. John 'Jack' Hudson, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force director, accepted the medal on behalf of the Raiders. 'If here, the Raiders would tell you that they just wanted to help out with our nation's war effort,' Hudson said. 'The Doolittle Raiders' service model of excellence&nbsp;... is an inspiration for all of today's military.' |archive-date=10 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010225017/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/585303/doolittle-tokyo-raiders-receive-congressional-gold-medal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider ===
In September 2016, the [[Northrop Grumman B-21]] was formally named "Raider" in honor of the Doolittle Raiders.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Mike |title=The B-21 has a name: Raider |date=19 September 2020 |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/948366/the-b-21-has-a-name-raider/ |publisher=U.S. Air Force |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118224327/http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/948366/the-b-21-has-a-name-raider.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The last surviving Doolittle Raider, retired Lt Col Richard E. Cole, was present at the naming ceremony at the [[Air Force Association]] conference.<ref name="flightglobal">{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/last-surviving-doolittle-raider-rises-to-name-northr-429496/|publisher=flightglobal.com|title=Last surviving Doolittle Raider rises to name Northrop B-21|access-date=16 October 2016|date=20 September 2016|archive-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218212303/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/last-surviving-doolittle-raider-rises-to-name-northr-429496/|url-status=live}}</ref> The name is fitting since the Doolittle Raiders flew such a long distance and the B-21 Raider is also intended to have an extremely long range. This is because it is designed for the Indo-Pacific theater, where ranges are very long.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Unveiling of the B-21 Bomber (A |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3235260/remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-unveiling-of-the-b-21/https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3235260/remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-unveiling-of-the-b-21/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>