Lt. Col Ed Saylor, One of the Last Four Doolittle Raiders Passes

[OneManGang]

On 18 April 1942 sixteen Army B-25B Mitchell medium bombers were pushed and tugged by Navy deckhands on the USS Hornet (CV-8) in preparation for one of the most audacious and memorable missions of WWII.

Their target for the day: the heart of the Empire of Japan.

In the No. 15 aircraft, serial # 40-2267 nicknamed "TNT" was a young gunner from Jordan, Montana named Edward Saylor. Ed and his crew mates bombed their target, Kobe. Flying through worsening weather toward China they eventually crash-landed in the sea and made their way to shore. After a number of adventures, they evaded the Japanese and made it back to the USA. Along with all the other Raiders, Saylor received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He served at various posts during the War and stayed in the service. In 1948 he accepted a commission as an officer in the new United States Air Force and retired as a Lt. Colonel.

On Wednesday, 28 January, Lt. Col. Saylor took off on his Last Mission to join 76 of his comrades now forever patrolling the skies of Our Country.

(US Air Force)

Godspeed, Colonel Saylor, and thank you.

Two years ago, I posted some of my thoughts on the Doolittle Raid here: http://www.volnation.com/forum/pub/208417-respect-gratitude-doolittle-raiders-last-gathering.html

Check there for a list of suggested readings.

The crew of Plane 15 "TNT", Front row: Pilot Lt. Donald G. Smith, and Lt. Griffith P. Williams, copilot. Back row: Lt. Howard A. Sessler, navigator/bombardier; Lt. Thomas R. White, flight engineer; and Sgt. Edward J. Saylor, gunner. (US Air Force)

 

[AirVol]

RIP to a great American.

 

[malinoisvol]

As a retired member of the USAF, I salute you Colonel Saylor. You have earned your wings twice.

 

[Plano Vol]

I guess that is one more silver cup that is retired to the cabinet. Are you aware of that ritual?

 

[WallyBalls]

I guess that is one more silver cup that is retired to the cabinet. Are you aware of that ritual?

It's one of the coolest things in American History.

I honestly believe that.

 

[OneManGang]

On 9 November 2013, the last survivors gathered at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and opened the bottle of 1896 Henessy Cognac and toasted their buddies.

Present for the ceremony: Col Dick Cole, LTC Saylor and SSGT David Thatcher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDKPYpkU5Cg

 

[Ernest T. Vol]

I guess that is one more silver cup that is retired to the cabinet. Are you aware of that ritual?

Almost down to the last. They have my respect and admiration. Men among men.

 

[hog88]

Big brass balls!

Salute and rest in peace.

 

[Grand Vol]

Blue Skies Colonel

 

[joevol33]

RIP to a hero

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Awesome men. God we owe so much to that generation. I thank God that our nation, while afflicted with it's share of scoundrels and frauds, has been blessed with great heroes and leaders. France got egomaniacal, power hungry men like Napolean. We got heroes like Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln. Thank God.

 

[rs16]

As a fellow Army aviator, I salute them all. R.I.P. heroes.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

I met, had a conversation with and recieved an autograph from Philip Baham over the weekend while on base at Pearl. He was a crew chief for the Tuskeegee Airmen. Awesome conversation from a happy man who was willing to discuss his time serving. Those guys are from the most awesome generation of men. I salute all of them.


I also met, had a conversation with and recieved an autograph (on a replica Honolulu newspaper from Dec. 7,1941) with Robert Lee- survivor of the Pearl Harbor Attack. Very interesting man.

 

[rs16]

Believe the last Arizona survivor passed away yesterday.

 

[RollinVol]

Believe the last Arizona survivor passed away yesterday.

No. Oldest survivor passed away. He was 100. There are 8 survivors left. May he RIP.

 

[rs16]

No. Oldest survivor passed away. He was 100. There are 8 survivors left. May he RIP.

Sorry if I got it wrong.


Wonder if his ashes will be interred onboard.

 

[OneManGang]

No. Oldest survivor passed away. He was 100. There are 8 survivors left. May he RIP.

Lt. Commander Joe Langdell joined his shipmates on 4 Feb.

Joe Langdell dies at 100: Full of pride all of his days - Appeal-Democrat: News

Fair winds and following seas, Sir.

And thank you.

Sorry if I got it wrong.

Wonder if his ashes will be interred onboard.

According to his son (quoted in the article) that is the case.

Fortunately for Ensign Langdell, he was ashore when the attack began and missed the forward magazine blast that killed most of the crew.

 

[OneManGang]

Joining Col. Saylor and LCDR Langell now is CDR Alex Vraicu.

Alex Vraciu, WWII fighter pilot, dead at age 96

On 19 June 1944. Lt. Alex Vraicu (rhymes with "cashew") of VF-16 launched in his F6F Hellcat off the USS Lexington (CV-16) into the biggest single air battle of World War II in the Pacific. Four waves of Japanese carrier planes, over 400 in total, were coming to wipe Task Force 58 off the surface of the sea.

Many of TF-58's planes were ravaging Japanese targets on Guam, Saipan and Tinian in preparation for landings later that week. Admiral Marc Mitscher called his boys back using the old-time carnival call. "HEY RUBE!"

Soon after takeoff, Vraicu's Hellcat began running roughly and throwing oil. His windscreen covered and unable to climb above 20,000 feet, Vriacu and several other "orphans" with similar problems were directed to orbit away from the carriers and stay out of the way.

As Mitscher's fighters tore into the Japanese, Vriacu was left cursing his luck. Then his radio crackled with, "Many planes, Vector 265."

The Japanese were coming to him.

The attack proved to be a mixed force of around fifty fighters and bombers. Ignoring the fighters, Vraicu went after a formation of Aichi D3A "Val" dive-bombers. Despite his degraded visibility, Vraicu saw well enough to shoot down six of them in eight minutes. Running low on fuel, Vraicu headed back to Lexington where his plane was greeted with anti-aircraft fire. Venting his spleen on the Lexington gunners, Vraicu went around and finally landed.

Even being shot at by his own shipmates couldn't stop the grin on the young pilot's face. The picture of Alex Vraicu taken shortly after landing, the sweat of battle still visible, is one of the iconic images of WWII in the Pacific.

For his actions that day Lt. Alexander Vraicu, USN, earned the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor.

Commander Vraicu launched on his last patrol on 29 January 2015.

Godspeed, Sir.

And thank you.

 

[OneManGang]

And then there were two.

Lt. Col. Robert Hite of 'Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' dead at 95 - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

Lt. Robert Hite was the co-pilot of the #16 plane which was the last off the deck of Hornet. Their target was Nagoya. After bombing the target, they tried to make it to China. They got there after dark and bailed out instead of risking a crash-landing.

All five crewmen were captured by the Japanese. They and three other raiders also captured were taken to Japan and held in the Central Tokyo Police headquarters while awaiting war crimes trials. All eight were convicted and sentenced to death. Pilot William Farrow and gunner Sgt. Harold Spatz from Hite's ship along with Lt. Dean Hallmark of the #6 plane were taken out and shot. Hite and the others were eventually sent back to China where they endured torture and hardships until liberated by American troops in August of 1945. One other captive, Lt. Robert Meder of Hallmark's plane died while in captivity in China.

Lt. Col. Hite's health was such that he was forced to miss the 2013 gathering of the Raiders which saw the opening of the iconic bottle of Hennessy cognac.

Here, Lt. Hite is escorted by two Japanese soldiers after his capture.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." - General George S. Patton, Jr.

The Crew of No. 16 (Plane #40-2268, target Nagoya): 34th Bombardment Squadron, front row: Lt. William G. Farrow, pilot; and Lt. Robert L. Hite, copilot; back row: Lt. George Barr, navigator; Cpl. Jacob D. DeShazer, bombardier; and Sgt. Harold A. Spatz, flight engineer/gunner. Image and caption: Pacific Air Forces.