Doolittle Raiders Announce Final Reunion

The Doolittle Raiders — the 80 men who made the daring Tokyo raid that inspired a nation — have had an annual reunion for the past 67 years.  At each one, they have toasted their comrades who have passed the prior year and ceremoniously turned their goblets over.  The plan was that the final two Raiders would open and drink a cognac bottled the year their then-leader, Jimmy Doolittle, was born.

There are five remaining Raiders, four of whom are “active.”  All are well into their 90s.

The Doolittle Raiders have decided to make 2013 their last reunion, and they will open the bottle this year.

For their final reunion, they will return to the place they first trained for their mission — Eglin Field, now Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The Raiders trained at then Eglin Field with Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, who led the 16 Army B-25 bombers off the deck of the Navy aircraft carrier to bomb five major Japanese cities…

The reunion being organized by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce April 16-21 will be a “Farewell Tribute.”

The Doolittle Raiders are going to “close [their] mission.”  May their mission and sacrifice not be forgotten.

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One comment

  • Thomas G. Casey
    4 February 2013 11:36 pm

    FYI:
    editorial furnished has wrong information. This is the FINAL Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Public reunion. There will be another gathering of the Raiders in the future to privately celebrate their long mission. At that time the famous bottle and toast will be held. This will not be the case at this reunion being held at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.
    Thomas G. Casey
    General Manager/Director
    Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Assoc.
    Sarasota, Fla.