DOOLITTLE ICON FLIES YELLOW ROSE

On November 5, 2004, Dick Cole joined the “Rose” crew on the trip to Lackland AFB. Thanks to Bob Gardner for arranging this and getting Dick Involved in our squadron activities. We look forward to having him on our “ Advisory Board for Fund Raising” and look forward to him being on trips with us in the future. As we all know, the stories below are what we are all about.  -Grant

IT ALL CAME BACK

By Dick Cole

     My reaction to the flight was “Gee! what an invitation, what an honor, and a definite pleasure”.  On top of my getting to fly co-pilot, my grandson Elliot was also invited.  He made the trip riding in the nose.

     After reporting to the “Rose” and a short wait, we boarded the aircraft and taxied out.  After the run-up check, Ron Dietes, the pilot, got taxi and take-off instructions and in a few minutes we were airborne.

     After climbing to assigned altitude, Ron turned the controls over to me.  Except for some new instruments, it was like coming back to where I left off sixty some years ago.  I felt right at home listening to the familiar sounds of the “Rose” engines and handling of the controls as we flew toward Lackland.  The flight lasted about twenty minutes.

     When we arrived in the Lackland area, I returned the controls to Ron.  On landing, we were greeted by the air show personnel and invited to an evening barbeque.  I would like to thank the Yellow Rose Squadron for inviting me to make the flight and allowing my grandson to experience a flight in a WWII combat aircraft like the one his grandfather flew.

Dick Cole, center, his daughter Cindy Chal, right, and grandson Elliot, left, at Lackland AFB post airshow barbecue.

Photo by Bob Gardner

A DREAM COME TRUE

By: Elliot Cole Chal

     The one thing I had dreamed about since I was about 8 years old had just come true.  The best part of it was that it was happening with my 89 year-old grandfather, who is still out and about.  I was flying in a WWII B-25 with him. 

     We were in the CAF Yellow Rose flying from San Marcos to Lackland AFB, San Antonio.  I now have two trips in WWII planes to remember.  My first flight was also out of San Marcos in a T-6 Texas with pilot Grant Lannon and now the B-25 Yellow Rose.  The B-25 was THE cool plane 62 years ago.  It was like today’s B1 bomber. 

     The flight took place on a beautiful clear Texas day.  We flew at about 5000 altitute which was 4500 ft. higher than my grandfather had flown some 62 years ago.  It was a great day for pictures and I enjoyed every minute of it.  It was all I had ever dreamed about. 

     These great planes will not be flying much longer in my lifetime and I have gotten an experience I can tell my friends and my grandchildren about. 

A SPECIAL OATH

By: Pat Jopling, Capt USAF

     Can you remember the most memorable point in your career? Whether it is from military or civilian life. I’m sure each of you has one. Mine was on Friday, flying in for the Lackland Airshow. To foresee oneself accomplishing feats that will be marked in history is impossible, but I can say that I took part in something that will be marked in my history book.

     Since first discovering the Centex Wing of the CAF in 1999 when I helped “Post the Colors” (as part of Det 840 AFROTC at SWTSU) at the 1999 Gathering of Memories Airshow, I have had nothing but rewards with them ever since. Realizing that I could never come close to giving back to the CAF what it has given me, I enjoy each opportunity I have to brag about the CAF and our veterans who flew and still fly these war birds.

     I remember conversing with LtC Dick Cole (ret), who served as the co-pilot for then LtC Jimmy Doolittle, on the Tokyo Raid in 1942, about reaffirming my Oath of Office. Earlier in the year, he had been extremely busy with appearances and coordinating the Doolittle Reunion. Recently, when I found out that he would be accompanying the Yellow Rose to Lackland I took the opportunity to ask again and he graciously stated that it would be an honor to do it.  At the time, I did not realize the feeling that it would give me to have an actual Doolittle Raider reaffirm my Oath, and aboard a B-25, similar to what he flew on that fateful day, 18 April 1942.

Taking off out of San Marcos, we headed for San Antonio. Aboard the Yellow Rose, were not only LtC Cole (ret) but also one of his grandsons, Elliot, our pilots, Ron Dietes and Howard Martin, our flight engineer, Jim Lyles, and the other two crewmembers, Bob Gardener, and Herb Welsh.  At Lackland, we were to be met by other crewmembers, Jack Reeves, who was instrumental in getting me to San Marcos for the flight, and Lettie Dietes. Once we achieved airspace each crewmember took turns moving around the aircraft and taking pictures, I remained in the waist gunner position watching, in awe, as LtC Cole (ret) sat in the co-pilot seat, as he had 62 years earlier. As we entered airspace over Randolph AFB, I moved up into the forward crew compartment area as LtC Cole (ret) prepared to reaffirm my Oath of Office. As we began, trading intercom time as each part was read and repeated, I concentrated 100%, as this is something that I did not want to mess up. After completing the Oath, he shook my hand and congratulated me. Upon landing at Lackland AFB and after all the crew exited the aircraft, I turned to him to complete the job by giving him the sharpest salute ever and he returned a most memorable salute that will never be forgotten. He then autographed the actual copy of the Oath that he had administered to me.

In my short time In the Air Force, I have met many pivotal figures in our military history. I don’t see this having ever been possible without my experience with the CAF, the Centex Wing, and the Yellow Rose Squadron.

In all, my only regret is not having my dad here to see the enjoyment that these Warbirds give me, as they did him when he served as a crew chief and bombardier aboard B-10s and B-26s back in WWII. As I continue my active duty service in the USAF, and continue to squeeze out any spare time I have to dedicate to the CAF, I can only imagine how I would have loved to have taken just one ride with him aboard the Yellow Rose. Here’s to his past enjoyment and dedication to these birds and to my present love for them and wishing that he were still here to love them once again…and here’s hoping that these planes continue to fly and outlive us all.

Dick Cole and Pat Jopling in the student seats during the flight to Lackland AFB.

Photo by Bob Gardner

I SOARED WITH AN EAGLE

By: Ron Dietes

     On April 18th 1942, eighty brave young Army Aviators climbed into sixteen B-25B Medium bombers and took off from the aircraft carrier Hornet, for what was to be a one-way trip to bomb Japan.  We all know how that trip turned out and although the bomb damage was not significant, it was a morale booster for the folks back home just when one was sorely needed.

     It never occurred to me when I started turning wrenches on the Yellow Rose on a cold and windy Saturday almost seven years ago, that I would ever have the opportunity to fly the Yellow Rose or even attend a Doolittle Reunion, but that is exactly what happened.   In April of 2002, I was one of the fortunate crew members (co-pilot) that flew the Rose to the original B-25 base at Downtown Airpark in Columbia, South Carolina.  That was a memorable event as we flew in a twelve ship B-25 formation.  Little did I realize that I was going to be very fortunate again and have the opportunity to fly with a Doolittle Raider, but on Friday November 5th, 2004, I had the honor of flying the Rose to Lackland AFB for their Air Show with Jimmy Doolittle’s co-pilot Dick Cole and his grandson Elliot Chal.  Also on the flight crew for this memorable flight were squadron members Howard Martin (co-pilot), Jim Liles (flight mechanic), Bob Gardner (PR officer), and passengers Herb Welch and US Air Force Captain Pat Jopling.

     This whole event began several months ago at our normal squadron meeting when we were discussing the remaining air shows on the Rose schedule.  Bob Gardner said he thought it would be an excellent opportunity to obtain some media exposure for the CAF and The Yellow Rose and at the same time allow Dick Cole to again ride in a B-25.  So we all agreed we would try to make it happen.  Bob then contacted Dick Cole’s daughter Cindy Chal and it looked like it would fit into their schedule, so Bob assembled the media information and about two weeks prior to the flight, sent out the material.  We did not really expect a large media turnout, but we thought even if just one reporter came out, we would consider it a success.  That is exactly what happened.  Billy Calzada from the San Antonio Express-News arrived shortly after we taxied in to greet us and to interview Dick and take some photographs for the newspaper.  It was great.

     When I arrived at the hangar in San Marcos, Jim Liles had most of the pre-trip tasks done, so the crew finished up the remaining work and pushed the Rose out of the hangar into the sunshine.  She sure did sparkle as we had spent most of the previous Saturday washing and polishing her.  Our scheduled take-off time was 2:30pm.  That would allow us enough time to fly from San Marcos to San Antonio and have some time to make some radial engine noise over the city.  So after the flight briefing we all climbed into the Rose and strapped into our seats.  It was an absolutely beautiful day for flying.  Not a cloud in the blue sky and a light wind blowing almost right down runway 35.  After an uneventful take-off, we leveled off at altitude and contacted San Antonio Approach to tell them our intentions.  Howard graciously vacated the co-pilot seat so Dick could again sit in the co-pilot seat and fly a B-25 as he did over sixty years ago.  I cannot describe the feeling that came over me when I looked over and saw Doolittle’s co-pilot flying next to me.  I considered it an honor just to meet and talk with him and here I was flying with him in a B-25.  We had to climb and descend plus change course several times as approach was trying to keep us out of the Randolph AFB and San Antonio International airspace while at the same time letting us circle over downtown.  For not flying for quite a while, Dick flew the Rose extremely well.  While he was flying, I kept thinking that I was flying with a true hero.  We received a radio call from San Antonio approach asking us to contact the Lackland Airboss.  Turns out, they wanted us to turn toward the base as they had a mini air show in progress and were trying to squeeze us into the flow.  Howard and Dick changed places and we turned inbound to Lackland and after several 360 degree turns were able to land and taxi to our parking spot on the war bird area of the ramp.  It was a great feeling for me to see folks gather around Dick.  I am sure he enjoyed it as Cindy, Elliot, and Dick stayed for the barbecue and talked with many of the Air Force men and women who were at the dinner.

     One other event occurred on the flight.  Since Pat was recently promoted to Captain, she asked Dick to re-swear her into the Air Force.  I don’t know if that has ever been done before.

     Not many people can say that they have “Soared with an Eagle”.

Dick Cole (center, standing) and Yellow Rose crew at Lackland AFB .

Photo by Bob Gardner