King & Country
Captain
- Joined
- May 23, 2005
- Messages
- 5,016
Hi Guys,
I just heard earlier today from Amber at Kings X in San Antonio that our good friend, Colonel Richard E. Cole had passed away in nearby Comfort, Texas at the grand old age of 103.
Back in 2013, King & Country and Kings X had the privilege of hosting Col. ‘Dick’ Cole and his daughter Cindy as our ‘Guests of Honour’ at ‘The Saturday Night Symposium’ during the time we were running the Texas Toy Soldier Show.
During the show itself Cindy had requested that we provide a table for her Dad to sell and personally sign copies of a special print of Jimmy Doolittle’s B25 which flew on the ‘Tokyo Raid’ and which Dick Cole copiloted.
All the proceeds from the print sales and other ‘Doolittle Mission’ memorabilia were given over to a great scholarship scheme to help youngsters learn to fly.
At the end of a very busy day, Cindy told me that they had raised a great deal of money for the scholarship and her Dad was very happy with the enthusiastic response from toy soldier collectors and dealers alike.
That evening at our Symposium Cindy played a 15 minute video of the ‘Doolittle Raid’ in which her father took part. At the end of it the entire audience stood up and gave her Dad a ‘standing ovation’.
Before the video screening Cindy originally said to me that Col. Cole would probably just say ‘Thanks’ and leave it at that. After all the gentleman was 97 years old at that time!
Imagine everyone’s delight when the man himself said, “Well, now you’ve seen the movie... any questions?”
For the next 45 minutes or son Col. Cole fielded a large number of questions from the audience wanting to know more about his involvement before, during and after his most famous mission.
One question was particularly good, “When did you last fly a B25...?”
“Back in 1995”, the Colonel answered, “about 50 years after the end of the war.”
“Did you find it difficult after so many years?” The questioner asked.
“Not really,” Dick Cole modestly replied, “Just like riding a bike... you never forget it!”
It was a real privilege and pleasure to meet a flying legend and a real American hero.
Attached to this email is the full colour B25 print Col. Dick signed for me and the B25 illustration I did for our Saturday Night Symposium with the Colonel.
Our condolencies to the Cole Family at the passing of this fine man.
Andy, Laura, Amber and everyone at King & Country and Kings X
I just heard earlier today from Amber at Kings X in San Antonio that our good friend, Colonel Richard E. Cole had passed away in nearby Comfort, Texas at the grand old age of 103.
Back in 2013, King & Country and Kings X had the privilege of hosting Col. ‘Dick’ Cole and his daughter Cindy as our ‘Guests of Honour’ at ‘The Saturday Night Symposium’ during the time we were running the Texas Toy Soldier Show.
During the show itself Cindy had requested that we provide a table for her Dad to sell and personally sign copies of a special print of Jimmy Doolittle’s B25 which flew on the ‘Tokyo Raid’ and which Dick Cole copiloted.
All the proceeds from the print sales and other ‘Doolittle Mission’ memorabilia were given over to a great scholarship scheme to help youngsters learn to fly.
At the end of a very busy day, Cindy told me that they had raised a great deal of money for the scholarship and her Dad was very happy with the enthusiastic response from toy soldier collectors and dealers alike.
That evening at our Symposium Cindy played a 15 minute video of the ‘Doolittle Raid’ in which her father took part. At the end of it the entire audience stood up and gave her Dad a ‘standing ovation’.
Before the video screening Cindy originally said to me that Col. Cole would probably just say ‘Thanks’ and leave it at that. After all the gentleman was 97 years old at that time!
Imagine everyone’s delight when the man himself said, “Well, now you’ve seen the movie... any questions?”
For the next 45 minutes or son Col. Cole fielded a large number of questions from the audience wanting to know more about his involvement before, during and after his most famous mission.
One question was particularly good, “When did you last fly a B25...?”
“Back in 1995”, the Colonel answered, “about 50 years after the end of the war.”
“Did you find it difficult after so many years?” The questioner asked.
“Not really,” Dick Cole modestly replied, “Just like riding a bike... you never forget it!”
It was a real privilege and pleasure to meet a flying legend and a real American hero.
Attached to this email is the full colour B25 print Col. Dick signed for me and the B25 illustration I did for our Saturday Night Symposium with the Colonel.
Our condolencies to the Cole Family at the passing of this fine man.
Andy, Laura, Amber and everyone at King & Country and Kings X
