Dick Cole’s War: Doolittle Raider, Hump Pilot, Air Commando

American Military Experience

De: Dennis R. Okerstrom

Narrado por: Larry D. Peterson

With the 100th anniversary of his birth on September 7, 2015, Dick Cole has long stood in the powerful spotlight of fame that has followed him since his B-25 was launched from a Navy carrier and flown toward Japan just four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In recognition the tremendous boost Doolittle’s Raid gave American morale, members of the Tokyo Doolittle Raiders were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in May 2014.

Doolittle’s Raid was only the opening act of Cole’s flying career during the war. When that mission was complete and all of the 16 aircraft had crash-landed in China, many of the survivors were assigned to combat units in Europe. Cole remained in India after their rescue and was assigned to Ferrying Command, flying the Hump of the Himalayas for a year in the world’s worst weather, with inadequate aircraft, few aids to navigation, and inaccurate maps.

More than 600 aircraft with their crews were lost during this monumental effort to keep China in the war, but Cole survived and rotated home in 1943. He was home just a few months when he was recruited for the First Air Commandos and he returned to India to participate in Project 9, the aerial invasion of Burma.

The book is published by University of Missouri Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“Okerstrom illuminates the mindset of combat aviators like few other authors. He is also a skilled writer with a real knack for bringing this important subject to life.” (John C. McManus, general editor of the American Military Experience series)

©2015 The Curators of the University of Missouri (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Learning about a very

Everyone knows about the Dolittle’s raid and experiencing from Turner’s perspective only adds to the sense of boldness, daring and sacrifice of this element of the GREATEST GENERATION.

As a WWII history buff, I found his recollection of flying the hump and serving with the air commandos more interesting as events in these two theaters of war have received scarce coverage.

I amazed how so many of these WWII heroes have lived to their late 90’s or even past a 100. They exhibit such a strong life force.

I certainly recommend this book to anyone to learn more about the war against Japan especially in China Burma theater of operations.