Edward Saylor

Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Saylor, Ret. (March 15, 1920 – January 28, 2015) served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a veteran of World War II and participated in the Doolittle Raid on Japan on April 18, 1942. Saylor was one of the last four surviving Doolittle Raiders at the time of his death in 2015.

Early life
Saylor was born in Brusett, Montana, on March 15, 1920, and raised on a cattle ranch. He had never seen a bus or train in real life until his enlistment in the U.S. military in 1939. According to his own accounts, Saylor entered the military because he was "sick of cows." He saw a poster that promised $78 per month to be a mechanic and offered peacetime pay. This persuaded him to join the U.S. Army Air Corps right out of high school.

Military
Saylor enlisted on December 7, 1939, at Fort George Wright, Washington. Afterwards, he was enrolled in the Air Corps Training School at Chanute Field, Illinois. When Saylor completed his training, he served as the flight engineer at bases in Washington, South Carolina, and Florida. At the age of 22, he was assigned to the 89th Bomb Squadron in Columbia, South Carolina. In February 1942, Saylor volunteered for a "secret mission," even though he did not know what duties were involved or any other details. This mission ended up being the critical Doolittle Raid.

Saylor was the flight engineer for crew #15 of the Doolittle Raiders. He was credited with ensuring that this crew would be able to participate in the raid after an engine malfunction derailed their mission. James Doolittle personally asked Saylor to fix the problem. He had to dismantle and repair the engine on the deck of the aircraft carrier. Despite the fact that this work would normally be done in a depot, Saylor was able to rebuild the engine successfully.

Saylor remained in the U.S. military following the end of World War II and served the remainder of the war in Europe. He received battlefield commission on March 4, 1945. After 28 years of service, he honorably retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel on October 1, 1967. Saylor later pursued ventures in construction and real estate within the private sector. He also owned a restaurant with his wife.

Saylor was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and other awards for his service during the war. In 2014, Saylor and the other Doolittle Raiders were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also honored as the sixth person to receive Enumclaw's Walk of Fame in 2013.

Personal life
Saylor was married to Lorraine Saylor for 69 years, until her death in 2011. They had three kids. Edward Saylor died at an assisted living center in Sumner, Washington, on January 28, 2015, at the age of 94. Members of his family revealed he died from natural causes. His passing leaves just three surviving Doolittle Raiders.