[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 39 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD 180TH 
    FIGHTER WING ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BASE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2005

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special 
tribute to the men and women, both past and present, who serve the Ohio 
Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton, Ohio.
  In 1955, the 112th Bombardment Squadron moved from the Akron-Canton 
Airport to Toledo and became a Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Soon 
after, the base became a Tactical Fighter Squadron and was activated 
for the Berlin Crisis. Then in 1962, the squadron became part of the 
newly formed 180th Tactical Fighter Group. After earning the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit distinction in both 1985 and 1990, members of the base 
were deployed to Panama during Operation Just Cause and Iraq for both 
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
  Today, the 180th Fighter Wing is equipped with F-16 Fighting Falcon 
aircraft and continues to be a tactical asset to the National Guard. 
Members have served in Operations Provide Comfort and Operation 
Northern Watch over Iraq in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Additionally, the 
brave men and women of the 180th were some of the first to scramble 
jets in defense of our Nation on September 11th.
  Because its central location places the 180th Fighter Wing within a 
30 minute flight time to nearly 50 million Americans, the base has been 
a vital force in American airpower for the past 50 years. The men and 
women who have served our area have benefited from the excellent 
quality of life in Northwest Ohio, and we in Northwest Ohio have 
benefited from their service. Many of my constituents have served 
honorably as members of the 180th Fighter Wing and earned numerous 
distinctions. In addition, the airmen of the 180th have contributed to 
our community through programs such as the ``Homeless Awareness'' 
project, the ``Adopt-A-School'' program and the Boy Scouts of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute 
to the men and women of the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter 
Wing in Swanton, Ohio. Their dedication to duty and contribution to air 
power has proven the airmen of the 180th Fighter Wing to be American 
heroes. Today, we pay respect to 50 years of dedicated service to 
Northwest Ohio and look forward to a future in which our children and 
grandchildren grow up under the protections provided by these great 
patriots.

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