[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   IN HONOR OF GRISSOM AIR FORCE BASE

                                 ______


                         HON. STEPHEN E. BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 1994

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, on October 1, 1994, Grissom Air Force Base, 
IN, will be realigned as an Air Force reserve base. As Grissom leaves 
active service, it is fitting that we honor this installation and the 
men and women who have served there in peace and war over the last 52 
years.
  Grissom Air Force Base, located in Peru, IN, was originally 
constructed as Bunker Hill Naval Air Station [NAS] in 1942. On July 1, 
1943, the U.S. Navy opened Bunker Hill in the middle of Miami County 
cornfields in north central Indiana. During its 4 years of operation as 
a naval air station, Bunker Hill NAS trained thousands of Navy, Marine, 
and Coast Guard pilots. Many of these pilots won distinction in every 
theater of operations during World War II.
  After the war, the Navy closed the base and it reverted to its former 
use as farmland, with many of the buildings being sold to local 
colleges. With the outbreak of the Korean war, the Air Force needed a 
base where it could conduct nationwide and global operations. Bunker 
Hill was a logical choice. The Air Force negotiated with the Navy to 
reopen the facility as Bunker Hill Air Force Base.
  Bunker Hill Air Force Base officially reopened as a Tactical Air 
Command [TAC] base on June 22, 1954. That year, the 4433d Air Base 
Squadron and the 323d Fighter-Bomber Wing called Bunker Hill home. In 
1955, the Air Defense Command's 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 
joined the base. The Stragegic Air Command [SAC] arrived on the base in 
the mid-fifties, and SAC's 8th Air Force assumed responsibility for the 
base on September 1, 1957, with the deactivation of the 323d. The 68th 
Air Refuelling Squadron arrived 2 days later to complete the formation 
of the 4041st Air Base Group.
  In May 1959, Bunker Hill saw the arrival of the 305th Bomb Wing with 
its B-47 strategic bombers. Two months later, the 4021st was 
redesignated as the 305th combat support group. That same year, the 
first KC-135 ``Stratotankers'' were assigned to that unit. The KC-135's 
have been a permanent fixture at the base since that time.
  Two years later saw Bunker Hill phasing in the B-58 ``Hustler'' to 
replace the B-47. The B-158's lasted until January 1, 1970, when the 
305th Bomb Wing was redesignated and replaced by the 305th Air 
Refuelling Wing. This wing was composed of the 305th Refuelling 
Squadron, the 70th Refuelling Squadron, and the 3rd Airborne Command 
and Control Squadron. These units formed the basis of the ``Can Do'' 
Wing.
  After 26 years of bearing the name of Bunker Hill, the base was 
renamed on May 12, 1968, for Lt. Col. Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, a 
native of Mitchell, IN. An experienced fighter pilot, Grissom was a 
veteran of the Korean war and an experienced test pilot. In 1959, 
Colonel Grissom was chosen as one of the seven original Mercury 
astronauts. He flew the second manned Mercury spacecraft on July 22, 
1961, which he named the Liberty Bell. In March 1965, Grissom teamed 
with Navy Comndr. John Young to fly the first of the Gemini spacecraft, 
Gemini 3. Tragically, Colonel Grissom was killed in a fire aboard his 
Apollo 1 capsule while still on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy, FL, on 
January 27, 1967. The base continues to honor this Hoosier hero.
  Throughout its history, the 305th flew missions in support of 
Operation Nickel Grass, supporting the resupply of Israel during the 
Middle East war, support missions in Southeast Asia, supported the B-1 
test program, and provided refuelling support to Operation Just Cause, 
the United States invasion of Panama. The 305th also supported troops 
in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, 
Desert Calm, and Provide Comfort.
  In 1991, the Secretary of Defense announced that the 305th was slated 
for inactivation. While the 305th Air Refuelling Wing will inactivate, 
the number and tradition of excellence will continue as it is 
redesignated the 305th Air Mobility Wing and relocates to McGuire Air 
Force Base, NJ.

  In addition to active Air force units the base has also been the home 
to Air Force Reserve units. The 930th Operations Group and its 
predecessors have a long and proud heritage dating back to World War 
II. The 930th, originally known as the 434th Special Operations Group, 
flying A-37 Dragonfly fighter-bombers, was reactivated and moved to 
Grissom in 1971. In 1973, the unit became the 434th Tactical Fighter 
Wing. In 1981, the 434 Tactical Fighter Wing and its subordinate 
command, the 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron, received the A-10 
``Warthongs.'' In 1987, the 434th Tactical Fighter Wing was reorganized 
as the 930th Tactical Fighter Group, and later shortened to the 930th 
Fighter Group.
  On June 1, 1992, the 930th Fighter Group was reorganized as the 930th 
Operations Group, and joined forces with the 434th Air Refueling Wing 
to form the first Air Force Reserve composite unit--the 434th Wing. Due 
to the post-cold-war reductions, Secretary of the Air Force Sheila 
Windnall announced in February 1994 that the 930th would be inactivated 
in the fall of 1994. On September 24, 1994, Colonel Don Schell, 
commander of the 434th Wing, presided over the casing of the colors of 
the 930th Operations Group and its subordinate command, the 45th 
Fighter Squadron.
  Grissom Air Force Base has seen many changes over the years, and has 
been home to many units including bomber, fighter, special operations, 
and refueling units. As of October 1, 1994, Grissom Air Force Base will 
be transferred to the Air Force Reserve. As such, it will continue to 
serve as the home of the 434th Air Refueling Wing.
  Grissom Air Force Base, like its namesake, Gus Grissom, and its 
thousands of airmen, has answered its Nation's call and served proudly 
and honorably. As its active duty mission comes to a close and the Air 
Force Reserve assumes control, I want to thank the men and women of 
Grissom Air Force Base and of Miami County and the city of Peru for 
their support to the defense and welfare of this great Nation.

                          ____________________