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Seventy-four years after the historical Doolittle Tokyo Raid,
Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, the second to last remaining Doolittle
Raider, was laid to rest at the age of 94 on June 27, 2016 in
Missoula, Montana.
Thatcher was celebrated with military
honors and multiple aircraft flyovers at Sunset Memorial Garden
Cemetery.
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Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher was an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7
of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids during World War II. His crew
crash-landed into sea off the coast of China on April 18, 1942. He
received full military honors during a funeral service June 27,2016
in Missoula, Montana. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from
courtesy photos)
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Air Force officials, friends and family from across the country
attended the ceremony. Also in attendance was retired Lt. Col.
Richard Cole, the last surviving Doolittle Raider.
The
Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard rendered respects as a symbol
of Thatcher's legacy of promoting the mission and preserving a rich
heritage.
The American flag-draped casket was carried by six
Airmen to Thatcher's resting place as a resounding silence spread
throughout the crowd. A five-member firing party delivered the
three-volley salute with 15 shots against the mountain backdrop,
into the crisp blue horizon.
The sound of taps echoed from
nearby trees as the flag was carefully folded, 13 times, leaving
only the visible blue field with stars representing Thatcher's
service.
The flag was presented to Dawn, Thatcher's wife of
70 years, on behalf of the President of the U.S., the Air Force and
a grateful nation for his honorable and faithful service.
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Lt. Col. Michael Epper, 341st Force Support Squadron commander,
presents the flag to Dawn Thatcher, wife of Staff Sgt. David J.
Thatcher, during a funeral service June 27, 2016 in Missoula,
Montana. At 20 years old, Sgt. Thatcher was an engineer gunner in
Flight Crew 7 of the Doolittle Tokyo Raids. His crew crash-landed
into sea off the coast of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved
four members of the crew by pulling them to safety on the
surrounding beach and applying life-saving medical treatment, even
though he was injured himself. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)
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“My father was a very gentle, humble and compassionate
individual,” said Jeff, Thatcher's son and president of Children of
the Doolittle Raiders. “He was full of dignity and grace, with the
soul of an angel and heart of a lion.”
The B-1B, from the
28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and a
B-25, owned by John Sessions, performed slow-speed flyovers in
Thatcher's honor.
Ellsworth has a strong tie to the
Doolittle Raiders. It is home to three of the four original
squadrons that participated in the historic raid: the 34th and 37th
Bomb Squadrons and the 89th Attack Squadron.
Thatcher was
the last surviving Doolittle Raider from Montana. Lt. Col. Edward
Saylor, also a Doolittle Raider flight engineer from Brussett,
Montana, died January 29, 2015, at the age of 94.
The Doolittle Raid
The
Doolittle Tokyo Raid was a part of early World War II efforts to
turn the tides, increase morale and display a show of force to Japan
and the world. Eighty men in 16 different B-25 Mitchell bombers
departed on the historical raid.
The
16 crews took off from the USS Hornet (CV-8), led by Col. Jimmy
Doolittle to fly over Japan's main island and dropped bombs on vital
defense resources within Tokyo.
The plan was to land in a
part of China that was not infiltrated with enemy soldiers after the
mission was complete.
At 20 years old, as an engineer gunner
in Flight Crew 7, Thatcher took to the skies in a B-25 named
Ruptured Duck.
The crew crash-landed into sea off the coast
of China on April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of the crew
by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and applying
life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured himself.
“I had a bird's eye view as I was in the turret on top, I could
see in every direction. It was a beautiful day when we came in over
the beach. Before we reached Tokyo there were six airplanes in
formation that came toward us,” Thatcher said in an interview in
2015. “We were flying so low in formation that I'm sure they didn't
see us.”
Seven men never made it home, but the sacrifice of
those brave aviators and the remaining 72 men have been celebrated
in time honored, custom rich memorials and toasts every year since.
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A B-25, owned by John Sessions, performed slow-speed flyovers in
honor of Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher June 27, 2016, in Missoula,
Mont. At 20 years old, and as an engineer gunner in Flight Crew 7 of
the Doolittle Tokyo Raids, Thatcher's crew crash-landed into sea off
the coast of China April 18, 1942. Thatcher saved four members of
the crew by pulling them to safety on the surrounding beach and
applying life-saving medical treatment, even though he was injured
himself. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe)
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The Greatest Generation
Often referred to as the greatest generation, young men
from all across the U.S. stood ready to fight a war in
arguably the most difficult time America has ever seen.
Thatcher was among these brave men.
He completed
high school and enlisted into the Army Air Corps Dec. 3,
1940. Thatcher completed the airplane and engine mechanic
course in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was prepared for war.
In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Thatcher was
a part of 25 missions to include the Doolittle Tokyo Raids,
the first bombing in Rome and operations in both England and
Africa.
The humble veteran was often quoted saying he
“was only doing (his) job.”
In 1944, Thatcher
returned to Missoula, Montana, got married and worked as a
clerk and postman.
Thatcher is recipient of the
Congressional Gold Medal and Air Force Silver Star. His
other decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Chinese Army,
Navy and Air Corps Medal.
“Be prepared for anything
you might run into. We weren't,” said Thatcher when offered
the opportunity to give Airmen a piece of advice April 17,
2015.
There is one remaining Doolittle Raider, Lt.
Col. Richard Cole. Cole was the co-pilot of Flight Crew 1.
Thatcher's death leaves a legacy of honor for Air Force
history and an overwhelming sense of pride in his closest
family and friends.
By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Annabel Monroe
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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