Doolittle Raiders honored

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- The extraordinary service of 80 men was remembered Thursday at the tribute to the Doolittle Raiders on the 71st anniversary of the Army Air Force squadron's flight from a Navy aircraft carrier to bomb Japan during World War II. At a luncheon held at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach, Rear Adm. Don Quinn, commander, Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, Fla., addressed more than 600 people who had come to honor the remaining Raiders. Four are still living and three attended the events scheduled over several days in Fort Walton Beach, including luncheons, dinners and a parade. Raiders present included Lt. Col. Richard Cole, co-pilot with Col. Jimmy Doolittle; Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, an engineer and gunner on crew 7; and Lt. Col. Edward Saylor, engineer for crew 15. The fourth Raider who was unable to attend is Lt. Col. Robert Hite, co-pilot of crew 16. (Source: NNS, 04/19/13) Previous