[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO 104TH FIGHTER GROUP

                                 ______


                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 1995

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the men and women of 
the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Group.
  On October 14, 1995, I will be attending welcome home ceremonies for 
the 104th Fighter Group at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, 
MA. Since August 14, 1995, Mr. Speaker, some 509 members and 12 A-10 
aircraft from the 104th Fighter Group have been deployed to Aviano Air 
Base, Italy as part of Operation Deny Flight, the U.N. peacekeeping 
mission in Bosnia.
  Mr. Speaker, during this deployment A-10 aircraft from the 104th 
Fighter Group flew 351 sorties totalling more than 1,200 hours of 
flying time as part of a multi-national effort to enforce U.N. no-fly 
zones over Bosnia and restore peace to that troubled region. More than 
200 of those sorties were part of Operation Deliberate Force, NATO's 
swift and decisive response to the tragic shelling of a Sarajevo 
marketplace by Serb forces.
  During the 3 weeks of Operation Deliberate Force, Mr. Speaker, 104th 
Fighter Group pilots and crews conducted intensive airstrikes against 
Serb air defense batteries, radar sites and communication facilities. 
Their skill and bravery in carrying out these dangerous, round-the-
clock missions were critical to the restoration of U.N. safe havens 
throughout Bosnia and contributed significantly to current strides in 
the peace process.
  The men and women of the 104th Fighter Group have long distinguished 
themselves as one of the top A-10 units in both the Air National Guard 
and the Air Force, and their participation in Bosnia has been no 
exception.
  During Operation Deny Fight/Deliberate Force, the 104th maintained an 
impressive 86 percent mission capability rate and was the Nation's 
first Air National Guard unit to employ sophisticated night vision 
equipment in combat. Aircraft from the 104th were also called upon by 
NATO to participate in the dangerous rescue mission of downed French 
Mirage jet pilots.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the First Congressional 
District, I want to express my sincere pride and thanks to the men and 
women of the 104th Fighter Group for their brave and distinguished 
contributions to the cause of peace in Bosnia.
  Welcome home and congratulations on a job well done.

                          ____________________