[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 283 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 283

Honoring the heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 glider pilots of 
         the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 27, 2005

  Mrs. McCarthy (for herself and Mr. Turner) submitted the following 
  concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 glider pilots of 
         the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Whereas the use of gliders during World War II provided an innovative method of 
        transporting troops and equipment behind enemy lines;
Whereas the United States Army Air Forces began training glider pilots in 1942, 
        eventually training approximately 6,500 men;
Whereas glider pilots exhibited exceptional valor by landing behind enemy lines 
        in unarmed gliders;
Whereas glider pilots participated in 8 successful missions;
Whereas in Operation Husky, which took place in Sicily on July 9, 1943, glider 
        pilots carried British airborne troops, completing their mission despite 
        heavy casualties resulting from landings at sea;
Whereas in Operation Broadway, which took place in Burma on March 5, 1944, 
        glider pilots took the Japanese completely by surprise; carried troops, 
        airborne engineers, and equipment by night; seized and prepared landing 
        strips for forthcoming transport planes; and evacuated the wounded, 
        accomplishing in 2 hours what would have taken 2 months by ambulance;
Whereas in Operation Overlord, on June 6, 1944, glider pilots took part in the 
        Battle of Normandy, the largest combined airborne and seaborne invasion 
        in history, carrying troopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions 
        and their equipment to landing areas behind enemy lines;
Whereas in Operation Dragoon, which took place in the coastal area of southern 
        France on August 15, 1944, glider pilots delivered troops and cargo 
        despite wooden poles erected in open fields to impede their landing;
Whereas in Operation Market-Garden, the largest glider operation of World War 
        II, which took place in Holland on September 17, 1944, glider pilots 
        carried their usual cargo of troops and heavy equipment, thereby 
        providing cover for an attempt to clear a road to Berlin;
Whereas in Operation Repulse, which took place in Bastogne on December 27, 1944, 
        as part of the Battle of the Bulge, glider pilots, although flying 
        directly through enemy fire, were able to land every glider, delivering 
        the badly needed ammunition, gasoline, and medical supplies that enabled 
        defenders against the German offensive to persevere and secure the 
        ultimate victory;
Whereas in Operation Varsity, which took place at the Rhine crossing in Wesel, 
        Germany, on March 24, 1945, more than 1,300 glider pilots took part in 
        their final European mission, delivering a fatal blow to Axis forces;
Whereas in Operation Gypsy Task Force-Appari Mission, which took place in the 
        Philippine island of Luzon on June 23, 1945, glider pilots took part in 
        their final, and only Pacific, mission, carrying members of the 11th 
        Airborne Division; and
Whereas many glider pilots sacrificed their lives during the course of these 
        missions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) honors the heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 
        glider pilots of the United States Army Air Forces during World 
        War II; and
            (2) urges the people of the Nation to remember and teach 
        future generations about the contributions and sacrifices that 
        glider pilots, and all veterans, have made to and for the 
        Nation.
                                 <all>