Doolittle Raiders honored with Congressional Gold Medal on 73rd Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid

  • Published
  • By Air Force Public Affairs
 In Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Capitol, leaders of the U.S. House and Senate honored the Doolittle Raiders with a Congressional Gold Medal April 15, 2015. 
The medal was then transported to Dayton, Ohio, for display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). 

Congress passed H.R.1209, awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. On May 23, 2014, the administration signed the legislation into Public Law No: 113-106.

On April 18, (which was the 73rd Anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid), the medal was flown onboard a B-25 aircraft in a short ceremonial flight in the Dayton area and landed at Wright-Patterson AFB. Also on the 18th, there was a ceremony at the NMUSAF where the Raiders turned the medal over for permanent display in the museum's Doolittle Raider/B-25 exhibit area.

There are three remaining Raiders, Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite and SSgt David J. Thatcher.  Lt. Col. Cole and SSgt Thatcher attended the medal ceremony.

The events not only show our appreciation to the Doolittle Raiders and their families but also highlight early airpower and innovation in addition to our nation's need and reliance on Global Strike.