[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 86 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S6009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS TO FORMER SENATOR WILLIAM D. 
                                HATHAWAY

  Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, I rise to salute a soldier, public 
servant, and son of Maine who Monday afternoon was honored for his 
heroic service 58 years ago today. This recognition is all the more 
special for me, for our Nation also honors a colleague, former Senator 
William D. Hathaway of Maine.
  On Monday, the United States Air Force recognized a distinguished 
World War II veteran for his heroic service 58 years ago. As a young 
airman serving with the Fifteenth Air Force high over the Ploesti oil 
fields in Romania, Second Lieutenant Bill Hathaway and his crew mates 
showed their courage, and in the process helped turn the tide of the 
Battle of Ploesti toward the Allied cause.
  As Major General N.F. Twining, Commanding General of the Fifteenth 
Air Force, wrote in a letter to Lieutenant Hathaway after the battle, 
``Your return marked the culmination of an outstanding campaign in the 
annals of American military history. The German war machine's 
disintegration on all fronts is being caused, to a large extent, by 
their lack of oil oil that you took away from them.''
  On the morning of June 24, 1944, while stationed near San Pancrazio, 
Italy, Lieutenant Hathaway and other members of the 514th Flying 
Squadron were deployed to Romania, where a battle for control of the 
Ploesti oil fields was raging with the Germans. Early that morning, 
Lieutenant Hathaway's squadron took off from their air station, located 
near the heel of Italy's boot, and crossed the Adriatic toward 
Bucharest, and the nearby oil fields. Future Senator Bill Hathaway was 
situated as a navigator as his B-17 aircraft droned toward its target.
  By 10:00 a.m., the squadron had arrived over Ploesti, but they 
encountered heavy enemy fire from the time they crossed the Rhine River 
nearby. As many as 200 German fighters challenged the American flyers, 
who encountered heavy flak. Upon arriving over the oil fields, though, 
the American mission was thwarted by a heavy German smoke screen that 
shielded the oil fields and other targets on the ground from sight.
  Undaunted, Lieutenant Hathaway and the crew plotted another 
alternative, as the squadron's commanding officer ordered the crew to 
turn around, circle back, and try the bombing run again. Dodging nearby 
anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters, the team proceeded over the oil 
fields again, and this time they found their target. The 514th dropped 
its bombs on target and headed away from Ploesti.
  But as with so many battles, the 514th's celebration was fleeting. 
Soon after dropping its bombs, Lieutenant Hathaway's aircraft was hit 
by flak from the dogfight over the oilfields. One of the B-17's engines 
was disabled, and three crew were injured: Lieutenant Hathaway was hit 
in the shoulder, nose gunner George Deputy in the head; and bombardier 
Richard McDowell in the leg. Demonstrating the tenacity and courage 
that has characterized Bill Hathaway throughout his career, Lieutenant 
Hathaway gave his pilot a course to Turkey, and, while medics dressed 
the wounds of the other two airmen, he assumed Deputy's position in the 
nose turret, and fired at the German fighters that continued to buzz 
his aircraft.
  Despite his valiant effort, the plane was crippled and continued to 
lose altitude. After German fighters took out a second engine, the 
pilot gave the order to bail out. Lieutenant Hathaway, and other 
members of the crew, donned their parachutes and jumped. Two crew, 
copilot David Kistler and waist gunner Ben Matthews, were killed when 
their parachutes failed to open. Lieutenant Hathaway and two others 
were taken prisoner upon landing, later being reunited with the 
remainder of the B-17 crew. Ultimately, these American heroes were 
imprisoned in Bucharest by German forces, where they remained until 
Romania was liberated by Russian allied soldiers in August, 1944.
  For his extraordinary heroism and bravery, the Air Force this week 
honored Senator Hathaway, and fellow crew members Herman Hucke and 
Richard McDowell, with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The ceremony at 
the Officer's Club at Bolling Air Force Base Monday afternoon provided 
yet another distinguished recognition for Senator Bill Hathaway, who 
represented Maine for 13 years in Congress. Since leaving Congress, he 
has remained active and engaged in public service, including time as a 
commissioner and chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.
  In reviewing the courageous actions of Lieutenant Hathaway and his 
crew today, I am reminded of the words of President John F. Kennedy, 
who said, ``In the long history of the world, only a few generations 
have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum 
danger.'' Well, how fortunate we are that those few generations were 
blessed with men like Bill Hathaway, Herman Hucke, Richard McDowell, 
and other members of the crew, seemingly ordinary Americans from small 
towns and big cities all across our Nation who performed extraordinary 
deeds in service to their country.
  So I am proud to join with the Air Force, the President, and the 
people of Maine and a grateful Nation in honoring Senator Hathaway, and 
his fellow crew, for their outstanding service. This recognition is 
well-deserved and, certainly, long overdue.

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