[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO RANKIN FIELD, TULARE, CA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 1997

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to pay tribute to the 
planners and participants from Sequoia and Rankin Fields. These two 
airfields will be celebrating their first reunion on Saturday, May 31, 
1997.
  Over 50 years ago, Tulare County opened its doors to train USAAF 
pilots. This reunion event is designed to honor those pilots who did 
not make it home from World War II, and to pay tribute to two 
distinguished soldiers, Maj. Richard Bong and Maj. Daniel Lindsay. Both 
gentlemen received their flight training at Rankin Field more than 50 
years ago. Later, the two went on to fight for victory during World War 
II. They each received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their 
distinguish military service.
  Rankin Field was founded by flight instructor ``Tex'' Rankin, a 
native of the State of Texas. Rankin opened his field during World War 
II. At the time, the Government contracted out private airfields, 
making them responsible for training soldiers entering military service 
during World War II. More than 40 years after Rankin's death, the 
contributions that he made to the growth of the Tulare and Visalia 
communities are still felt today.
  The celebration at Rankin Field is a culmination of work done by 
former cadets and instructors, Sequoia Field, the Tulare County 
Historical Society, and the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Former 
cadets from all over the State of California joined forces with the 
Tulare County Deputy Sheriff's Association, an organization that 
recently purchased a portion of the original Rankin Field site. The 
association commenced work on the headquarters and recreation facility 
that would be named ``Rankin Field, home of Tulare County Deputy 
Sheriffs Association.'' The association plans to create an exhibit 
devoted to the World War II USAAF pilot training program at Rankin 
Field.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have constituents in my district who have 
taken the initiative to restore Rankin Field in its full glory. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in wishing those organizers of the reunion 
best wishes for a successful and enjoyable celebration.

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