[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1089-E1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF THE BRAVE CREW OF THE RB-29 # 44 61810

                                 ______


                            HON. JON D. FOX

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 1996

  Mr. FOX. Mr. Speaker, on June 13, 1952, alone, unarmed, and unafraid, 
a crew of 12 men flying a sensitive reconnaissance mission over the Sea 
of Japan was engaged and shot down by two Soviet MIG-15 jet fighters, 
near

[[Page E1090]]

the coast of Russia. This crew of RB-29 # 44 61810 was part of the 91st 
Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan 
during the Korean war.
  For more than 40 years family members of this crew believed that the 
plane had an air accident. This is what the Government had told them. 
These men received no medals or recognition for their mission because 
``the plane was not flying in a combat zone.'' The Russians had denied 
that they shot down the plane.
  In 1992, President Yeltsin came forth and admitted that the Russians 
did indeed shoot down this plane, and that some airmen may have been 
taken prisoner and may still be alive. The fate of this crew is still 
under investigation.
  Because of outstanding heroism and devotion to duty displayed by this 
crew, in October of 1995 the Air Force honored these men by 
posthumously awarding the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple 
Heart.
  I would like to insert these men's names into the Congressional 
Record to ensure that they are forever a part of our history: Maj. 
Samuel Busch, Philadelphia, PA, 1st Lt. James Sculley, Philadelphia, 
PA, Capt. Samuel Service, Berkeley, CA, 1st Lt. Robert J. McDonnell, 
Oceanside, NY, M. Sgt. William B. Homer, Jeannette, PA, M. Sgt. David 
L. Moore, Yokota, Japan, S. Sgt. William Blizzard, Arlington, CA, S. 
Sgt. Miquel W. Monserrat, Philadelphia, PA, S. Sgt. Eddie Berg, 
Blackduck, MN, S. Sgt. Leon Bonura, Beaumont, TX, S. Sgt. Roscoe G. 
Becker, Tillamook, OR, A1c Danny Philsbury, Orange, TX.