X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2014 08:58:06 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail-qe0-f48.google.com ([209.85.128.48] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.8) with ESMTPS id 6671910 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 07 Jan 2014 08:30:35 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.85.128.48; envelope-from=mwsletten@gmail.com Received: by mail-qe0-f48.google.com with SMTP id gc15so317689qeb.21 for ; Tue, 07 Jan 2014 05:30:01 -0800 (PST) MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.49.130.135 with SMTP id oe7mr198311234qeb.41.1389101401356; Tue, 07 Jan 2014 05:30:01 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.229.125.20 with HTTP; Tue, 7 Jan 2014 05:30:01 -0800 (PST) X-Original-Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 07:30:01 -0600 X-Original-Message-ID: Subject: Always good advice From: Mark Sletten X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7bd6bc4495f6e804ef615f85 --047d7bd6bc4495f6e804ef615f85 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, who served as then-Col. Jimmy Doolittle's copilot during the April 1942 raid on Tokyo, toured Barksdale AFB, LA on 30 Dec 2013. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/467853/doolittle-ra= ider-to-airmen-training-is-key-to-mission-success.aspx Naturally, as old folks are wont to do, he shared some words of wisdom. *Throughout his visit, the soft-spoken 98-year-old projected humility as he recounted his role in the historic mission that provided a morale boost to the American public after the Japanese bombardment of Pearl Harbor, and continually emphasized that its success was due to the training and professionalism of the volunteer aircrews.* *When asked by one Airman if he was nervous prior to the mission, which involved launching B-25 bombers from the deck of the Navy's USS Hornet, Cole said, "I was not worried about taking off at such a short distance. One reason was that we had a good training experience, the other thing is that I was flying with one of the best copilots in the world."* *Cole's training prior to the mission included more than 60 hours of instruction at Eglin airfield in Florida, part of which was spent with a Navy pilot sent from Pensacola, Fla. to teach the aircrew how to accomplish a short carrier takeoff.* *"We had 498 feet to do this on a carrier,=94 Cole said. "With that trainin= g we were able to go up to 31,000 pounds on the aircraft that we would be using."* *The aircrews also received training in celestial and sea-based navigation and low-altitude flying.* *Ultimately, all of these skills would be employed by the crews during their mission, which explains why, when asked what advice he has for Airmen today, Cole said, "Get as much training as you can. Take advantage of it when the opportunity presents itself."* Fly safe! --Mark --047d7bd6bc4495f6e804ef615f85 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole, who served as then-Col. Jim= my Doolittle's copilot during the April 1942 raid on Tokyo, toured Bark= sdale AFB, LA on 30 Dec 2013.


Naturally, as old folks are wont to do, he shared= some words of wisdom.

Throughout his visit, the soft= -spoken 98-year-old projected humility as he recounted his role in the hist= oric mission that provided a morale boost to the American public after the = Japanese bombardment of Pearl Harbor, and continually emphasized that its s= uccess was due to the training and professionalism of the volunteer aircrew= s.

When asked by one Airma= n if he was nervous prior to the mission, which involved launching B-25 bom= bers from the deck of the Navy's USS Hornet, Cole said, "I was not= worried about taking off at such a short distance. One reason was that we = had a good training experience, the other thing is that I was flying with o= ne of the best copilots in the world."

Cole's training pri= or to the mission included more than 60 hours of instruction = at Eglin airfield in Florida, part of which was spent with a Navy pilot sen= t from Pensacola, Fla. to teach the aircrew how to accomplish a short carri= er takeoff.

"We had 498 feet t= o do this on a carrier,=94 Cole said. "With that training we were able= to go up to 31,000 pounds on the aircraft that we would be using."

The aircrews also recei= ved training in celestial and sea-based navigation and low-altitude flying.=

Ultimately, a= ll of these skills would be employed by the crews during their mission, whi= ch explains why, when asked what advice he has for Airmen today, Cole said,= "Get as much training as you can. Take advantage of it when the oppor= tunity presents itself."

Fly safe!

--Mar= k
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