The last two 'Doolittle Tokyo Raiders' presented the group's Congressional Gold Medal for permanent display at the National Museum of the US Air Force on Saturday, 73 years to the day after their daring bombing attack on Japan rallied Americans in World War II. Retired Lt Col Richard 'Dick' Cole, age 99, gave the medal to the museum's director in a ceremony at the museum attended by military and political officials and relatives of the original 80 Raiders. The medal, awarded by Congress earlier in the week, arrived in a ceremonial B-25 flight. Scroll down for video Staff Sgt David Thacker (left) and Lt Col Richard Cole (right) presented the Doolittle medal during a ceremonyLt Col Richard 'Dick' Cole, 99, gave the medal to Air Force museum directorStaff Sgt David Thatcher, 93, came from Missoula, Montana, for the eventCeremony 73 years to day after their bombing of Japan rallied US in WWIIMilitary and political officials and relatives of original 80 Raiders attendedThe group's Congressional Gold Medal arrived in a ceremonial B-25 flight
After encountering _ patrols, the raid launched ahead of plan, some 200 miles farther from shore for fuel-stretched bombers.