[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 750 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 750

 Recognizing the noble service of the 147th Fighter Wing on their 90th 
                              anniversary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2007

  Mr. Lampson (for himself, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Gene Green of 
 Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Poe, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Brady of 
Texas, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Ortiz, and Mr. Rodriguez) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the noble service of the 147th Fighter Wing on their 90th 
                              anniversary.

Whereas 2007 marks the 90th Anniversary of the 147th Fighter Wing located at 
        Ellington Field in Houston, Texas;
Whereas the first 111th Aero Squadron was formed on August 14, 1917, from the 
        Provisional Headquarters Squadron at Kelly Field; known simply as the 
        ``Post Headquarters Squadron'' and later designated the 632nd Aero 
        Squadron;
Whereas the unit was relocated to Ellington Field, in Houston, Texas, in 
        September of 1923;
Whereas, during World War II, the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron served 
        for 23 months of continuous combat flying, from June 1943 to May 1945, 
        flew 3,840 combat missions, and received 8 Battle Stars, the 
        Presidential Unit Citation, and was recognized by the French Government 
        for the French Croix De Guerre with Palm for its accomplishments;
Whereas, during the Korean War, the 111th was sent to Itazuke Airbase, Japan, 
        where the squadron flew combat sorties into Korea, destroying 1,343 
        railroad cars, 1,943 buildings, 88 bridges, 126 gun emplacements, 89 
        boats, and 2 MIG-15 fighters;
Whereas, on May 16, 1958, the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group (``FIG'') was 
        formed, with 5 new squadrons to support the 111th squadron, and earned 
        its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1966 when it was 
        proclaimed ``the most combat ready of all Air Guard units'';
Whereas from 1968 through 1970, pilots from the 147th FIG participated in 
        ``Palace Alert,'' which placed them in southeast Asia in support of the 
        Vietnam conflict;
Whereas, on January 1, 1970, the 147th FIG began an important new mission of 
        training all F-102 pilots in the United States for the Air National 
        Guard, graduating a total of 667 students who flew 50,486 jet hours and 
        2,266 support aircraft hours in 6 years of service in support of the 
        Combat Crew Training Mission;
Whereas, in 1989 and 1991, the 147th acquired C-26 Merlin aircrafts to conduct 
        counter-drug, law enforcement, and Operational Support Airlift missions, 
        continuing today as a valuable asset in homeland defense, counter-drug 
        operations, law enforcement and forward deployed combat reconnaissance 
        missions;
Whereas following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001, 4 
        147th Fighter Wing aircraft were launched to escort President George W. 
        Bush, a former 147th FIG pilot, onboard Air Force One from Florida to 
        Louisiana, Nebraska, and Washington, DC;
Whereas in August of 2005, the 147th Fighter Wing deployed to Balad Airbase, 
        Iraq, to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
        and the Global War On Terrorism, where they once again distinguished 
        themselves by flying 462 sorties and almost 1,900 hours in a 2-month 
        span, while setting unbreakable accomplishments of 100 percent 
        maintenance delivery, 100 percent mission effectiveness, and 100 percent 
        weapons employment under the most challenging of combat conditions; and
Whereas their success continued during their second rotation to Iraq in 2007, 
        flying 358 sorties and over 1,500 hours, while again maintaining 100 
        percent maintenance delivery, 100 percent mission effectiveness, and 100 
        percent weapons employment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the 147th Fighter Wing for, over their 90-year 
        history, serving nobly and effectively at home and abroad in 
        every major conflict our Nation has been engaged in since World 
        War II.
            (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the Texas National Guard 
        for appropriate display.
                                 <all>