[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 150 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2222-E2223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY EIGHTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PHIL ENGLISH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. ENGLISH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the members of The 
Mighty Eighth who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. They, 
along with the other armed services, answered the call to defend our 
homes and our loved ones, and to crush Hitler's dream to rule the 
world. The Eighth Air Force was our premier fighting outfit. It took 
the war directly to the heartland of Nazi Germany from bases across 
East Anglia.
  America called on them and these brave men answered our country's cry 
for help--the call to strike out tyranny and injustice. The Mighty 
Eighth airmen stepped forward from all walks of life. They gave it 
everything they had--some with their lives, but all with their hearts--
for the freedom we celebrate today.
  Imagine, if you will, the most horrible conditions. Flying over enemy 
territory in broad daylight in an unarmored bomber. It is freezing 
cold, about 30 degrees below zero, your life line is your flightsuit 
and your oxygen mask. The bombers fly in a tight square formation as a 
defense against Nazi fighter planes. There is a constant danger of 
colliding with the other bombers. Now, imagine dozens of Nazi fighters 
coming from all directions. It had to be terrifying for these young 
airmen, but they bravely carried on. These are the people who risked 
their lives for our country and the freedom we now enjoy.
  From humble beginnings, The Mighty Eighth formed shortly after the 
United States entered World War II. It included 200,000 people--40 bomb 
groups, 15 fighter groups, and two photo reconnaissance groups. They 
hailed from all over the United States including young men from the 
21st Congressional district of Pennsylvania. Their mission was to help 
the Royal Air Force destroy the military and industrial power of Nazi 
Germany. They were young, patriotic, and inexperienced. They were 
determined to give the United States the best that they had to give.
  The faced nearly impossible odds. They were pitted against the German 
Air Force who were superbly trained and very experienced at destroying 
everything in their path. The

[[Page E2223]]

Luftwaffe, as the German Air Force was called, had already devastated 
most of Europe.
  During those early years of World War II, they were the shock troops 
sent against Hitler. They opened a second front against the Nazis, long 
before the invasion of Europe. They tied-up hundreds of thousands of 
German troops, manning more than 10,000 anti-aircraft guns. By the 
admission of Hitler's armaments czar, Albert Speer, the second front 
``was the greatest battle lost by the German side.''
  Massive air battles followed, involving both fighters and bombers, 
and more than 26,000 of the Mighty Eighth lost their lives. More than 
18,000 were wounded and over 28,000 became Prisoners of War in the 
valiant defense of our country. Despite the heavy losses they suffered, 
The Mighty Eighth established the enviable record of never, never being 
turned back by enemy action.
  The ferocious war that was waged by the Royal Air Force and the 
Eighth AAF before D-Day, gave the Allied Forces complete superiority 
over the Normandy Beaches. They created the conditions that helped lead 
to the success of the D-Day landings. On the morning of June 6, 1944, 
some 1,250 bombers from the Eighth Air Force struck beach targets in 
preparation of the invasion. Throughout the day, all operational Eighth 
Air Force fighters provided air cover and attacked both road and rail 
targets.
  At the end of the war, 90 percent of Germany's infrastructure was 
demolished. The oil industry was demolished, and the transportation 
systems were in pieces. With the help of The Mighty Eighth, the 
Luftwaffe was destroyed!
  Their exploits added a glowing volume to the chronicles of military 
history but it came at a terrible cost. What they endured saved the 
lives of thousands and thousands in the ground forces. They made the 
invasion of Europe possible.
  The Mighty Eighth, played a vital role in the elimination of a deadly 
threat from the Nazi plague. This is the legacy of The Mighty Eighth, 
many of whom are no longer with us. We honor these aging heroes because 
they preserved freedom for us, their children and for generations to 
come.

                          ____________________