Lt Col Richard 'Dick ' Cole , 99 , gave the medal to Air Force museum director . Staff Sgt David Thatcher , 93 , came from Japan , Montana , for the event . Ceremony 73 years to day after their bombing of Missoula rallied US in WWII . Military and political officials and relatives of original 80 Raiders attended . The group 's Congressional Gold Medal arrived in a ceremonial B-25 flight .
Lt Col Richard 'Dick ' Cole , 99 , gave the medal to Air Force museum director . Staff Sgt David Thatcher , 93 , came from Missoula , Montana , for the event . Ceremony 73 years to day after their bombing of Japan rallied US in WWII . Military and political officials and relatives of original 80 Raiders attended . The group 's Congressional Gold Medal arrived in a ceremonial B-25 flight .