DOOLITTLE B-25B MITCHELL, HAND SIGNED BY LT. COL. RICHARD COLE

On 18 April 1942, Lt. Col. Cole (then 2nd Lieutenant) flew from the deck of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Hornet on what would be one of the most daring raids on the empire of Japan during World War Two.  He was the co-pilot of a B-25B Mitchell bomber piloted by Lt. Col.  James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, the mission leader.  His plane was one of sixteen like - bombers with a mission to bomb Tokyo and other key cities in Japan that day.  This attack, America's first retaliatory strike, would be so decisive that it would ultimately lead to the turning point of the war by provoking the Japanese counter attack and defeat at Midway in June of that same year.

SCALE: 1:48
W/S: 16 1/2  INCHES
LENGTH: 13 1/2  INCHES

Item Number:    AA955905RC                                                                                               Price:    $229.95

Historical Note: Richard Cole was born on the 7th of September 1915.  He attended and graduated from Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio and went on to complete two years of college at the University of Ohio.  He enrolled in civilian pilot training at Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio and after completing the program received his private pilot's license.  In November of 1940 Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He applied for and was accepted for U.S. Army Air Corps flight training.  This course of training took him first to Parks Air College in East St. Louise, Illinois and then to Randolph and Kelly flying schools in San Antonio, Texas.  In July 1941 after completing his training he won his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant.  He was assigned to the 34th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Group stationed at Pendelton, Oregon where he was a co-pilot flying the all-new medium bomber, the North American B-25 Mitchell.  In February 1942 his Group was transferred to Columbia, South Carolina and at the same time Cole was upgraded to 1st Pilot,  It was here that he was asked if he would like to volunteer to take part in a secret mission, an operation for which very little detail was provided.  Later this event would be made known to the world as the Doolittle Raid-a daring retaliatory first strike by the United States lead by the legendary Aviation Pioneer James  H. "Jimmy" Doolittle.  After the mission Cole would remain in the China/India Theater flying bombing and transport missions over the Hump until June 1943.  Upon his return to the United Stated he was assigned to the Ferry Command where he ferried aircraft.  In October 1943 Cole again volunteered for duty in the Burma Theater of operations.  This time he was famous Phil Cochran, Commander of the first Air Commando Group.  Their Mission was the first aerial invasion of Burma.  In this assignment Cole flew missions in support of General Orde Wingate and his ground forces.  In July 1944 Cole was again returned to the U.S. where he was assigned as an acceptance test pilot at Douglas Aircraft Plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  In January 1947 he was relieved from active duty and returned to college.  In June of this same year Cole was again recalled to active duty and remained stateside.  In August 1952 he was transferred to the Far East for duty as a Staff officer and flew administrative and combat cargo missions into Korea.  He went on to become jet qualified and rated as a Command Pilot with peace-service in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Venezuela, North Carolina and California.  He is a graduate of the State Department Language Institute, Air Tactical Command, Air Command and Staff and the Armed Forces Staff School.  He retired in 1967 and went on to design and build custom homes in San Antonio, Texas.  Even now at the time of this writing Cole remains active and finds himself busy within his day-to-day activities as he lives with his family in Comfort, Texas.