Skip to comments.
Boulder WWII hero Bill Bower dies at 93 ( last of Doolittle's Raiders )
Camera ^
| 01/10/2011
| Amy Bounds
Posted on 01/11/2011 7:45:57 AM PST by george76
Col. William Marsh "Bill" Bower, the last surviving pilot of "Doolittle's Raiders" who bombed Japan in 1942, died Monday at his home in south Boulder.
He was 93 and "lived a completely full life," said his son Jim Bower.
"My dad was a hell of a guy," he said. "He was a brave soul, a warrior. He was everybody's friend. He did all kinds of volunteer work. He was an exceptional human being."
Bill Bower was hailed as a hero for his role in the United States' first air attack on Japan following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He volunteered and was chosen for the mission, which was planned and led by Lt. Col. James "Jimmy" Doolittle.
On April 18, 1942, 16 B25B Mitchell medium bombers took off from the decks of the U.S.S. Hornet in the western Pacific Ocean. Because landing planes of that size on the Hornet was impossible, the pilots continued toward China after bombing their targets in Japan.
All but one of the aircraft, which landed in the Soviet Union, crashed in China or were ditched at sea. Of the 80 crew members, 11 were either captured or killed; the rest returned to the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycamera.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events; US: Colorado; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: billbower; bower; doolittle; doolittlesraiders; jimmydoolittle; lastpilot; navair
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-34 next last
1
posted on
01/11/2011 7:46:01 AM PST
by
george76
To: george76
So sad to see The Great Generation go.
2
posted on
01/11/2011 7:47:13 AM PST
by
A_Former_Democrat
(The Rodney King Riots: Courtesy of ABC, CBS, NBC & CNN)
To: george76
First Dick Winters, and now Bill Bower. It’s turning out to be a really bad week.
To: george76
Rest in Peace, Colonel!
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
4
posted on
01/11/2011 7:49:13 AM PST
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN '69 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!)
To: george76
5
posted on
01/11/2011 7:52:05 AM PST
by
pabianice
To: george76
RIP Col. Bower.
Another of The Greatest Generation passes from us and leaves us a bit poorer in spirit. This, on top of Major Winters' passing yesterday, is sad as these men exemplified what it means to be TRUE PATRIOTIC AMERICANS.
6
posted on
01/11/2011 7:52:24 AM PST
by
EnigmaticAnomaly
("Mantra of the left: 'It's only okay when WE do it.'")
To: george76
Saw the story of the Dolittle Raid on cable this weekend.
Every year they gather to toast Dolittle and their fallen comrades and turn upside down the glass of those who passed that year.
7
posted on
01/11/2011 7:57:33 AM PST
by
AU72
To: george76
A true hero. Rest in peace
To: george76
.........................RIP.............................
9
posted on
01/11/2011 7:57:46 AM PST
by
GitmoSailor
(AZ Cold War Veteran -Yes, We Need More Money-Please Donate Soon.........)
To: george76; fish hawk
This man was a true hero.
Not just to our generation but to many young 30-40 something relatives of ours and their friends. Most of them watched the series several times. In fact we were told about the series by our older son.
10
posted on
01/11/2011 7:58:35 AM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS DESTROYING AMERICA-LOOK AT WHAT IT DID TO THE WHITE HOUSE!)
To: george76
Lt.William Bower at the time...front left
11
posted on
01/11/2011 8:01:07 AM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: george76
Col. Bill Bower felt right at home in the command seat of the B-25 Pacific Prowler."
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward Ive climbed and joined the trembling mirth of sun-split clouds
and done 100 things you have not dreamed of
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovring there,
Ive chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
Ive topped the wind-swept hills with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind, I trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God!
By John Gillespie Maggee, killed in action at the age of 19 was serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force
12
posted on
01/11/2011 8:02:30 AM PST
by
Kartographer
(".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
To: Doogle
....jeeeeze sorry bout that...I thought I reduced it...
13
posted on
01/11/2011 8:02:33 AM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: Doogle
14
posted on
01/11/2011 8:03:48 AM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: george76
15
posted on
01/11/2011 8:08:41 AM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: george76
16
posted on
01/11/2011 8:09:57 AM PST
by
A.A. Cunningham
(Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
To: george76
17
posted on
01/11/2011 8:12:48 AM PST
by
EternalVigilance
(How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words! -- Samuel Adams)
To: george76
To: Doogle
It’s okay. These guys were giants. :-)
To: george76
Farewell to a truly gutsy American Hero...in every sense of the word.
Thank you for my freedom, Mr. Bower, and may you Rest In Eternally Honored Peace!
20
posted on
01/11/2011 8:17:05 AM PST
by
rottndog
(Freedom IS NOT FREE...Let us NEVER FORGET those that have paid it's highest price!)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-34 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson