Page 13
Ohio Valley Military Society
2014
Show of Shows
VETERAN GUESTS
Lieutenant Colonel
Richard Cole
was co-pilot to Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle on the legendary Doolittle Tokyo
Raid on Japan, Apr. 18, 1942. He bailed out over China at night during a rainstorm after his plane ran out of
fuel. The Chinese rescued him and several other Raiders. After the raid, he remained in China-Burma-India
Theater and flew supply missions over the “Hump.” Decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with
two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Air Force Commenda-
tion Medal, and the Chinese Army, Navy, Air Corps Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Cole retired from the United
States Air Force in 1 6 after 2 years of distinguished military service.
Autograph
CREW #1:
Pilot Lt. Col. J.H. Doolittle
Co-Pilot Lt. R.E. Cole
Navigator Lt. H.A. Potter
Bombardier SSgt. F.A. Braemer
Engineer Gunner SSgt. P.J. Leonard
NOTE:
A fee may be charged for some veteran autographs.
Russ Gackenbach
,
Navigator, B29
Necessary Evil
, 1
st Atomic Mission, Hiroshima photo plane, and 2d
Atomic Mission, Navigator, B29
Enola Gay
,
Kokura weather plane.
Autograph
Robert Bearden
was a squad leader of a mortar squad with H company, 507th Parachute Infantry Regi-
ment, which was attached to the 82nd Airborne. He made his first jump into combat on D-Day. During the
months following the Allied invasion into France, Mr. Bearden became a POW of the Germans and was held
in numerous prisons, the last being Stalag III C. He is the author of the book, “To D-Day and Back” and has
been a consultant for D-Day documentaries and featured in many D-Day news programs. Ninety-one year
old Mr. Bearden is a resident of Belton, TX. Decorations: Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit
Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star and one Bronzed Arrowhead Device, WWII Victory Medal,
Combat Infantry Badge, French Fourragere, Expert rifleman badge with pistol badge, Parachute Badge
with one Bronze Service Star, and French Legion Of Honor.
Autograph