[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE HEROISM AND VALOR OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY'S CARRIER 
                              AIR GROUP 83

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and commend the 
heroism and valor of the United States Navy's Carrier Air Group 83. 
During World War II, Navy Carrier Air Group 83 was responsible for the 
identification of, and subsequent successful attacks on, the Japanese 
midget submarine base on an island off Okinawa before the invasion by 
Allied forces in April 1945. Carrier Air Group 83 also attacked and 
contributed to the sinking of the Japanese battleship yamato in April 
1945.
  Carrier Air Group 83 was specifically commended by the commander of 
the United States Tenth Army for close air support strikes in support 
of operations on Okinawa in April 1945, and continued to perform those 
missions in an exemplary manner through May 1945. In addition, Air 
Group 83 engaged in attacks against the Kure naval facility and the 
Japanese battleship nagato in July 1945.
  Carrier Air Group 83 is credited with the destruction of over 220 
Japanese aircraft in aerial combat and over 75 aircraft on the ground 
during the months of March to August 1945, a critical contribution to 
Allied victory over the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater during 
World War II. All Americans should know of and commend the heroism and 
valor of Navy Carrier Air Group 83 and the contribution of that Air 
Group and its personnel to the defeat of Japan in the Pacific Theater 
during World War II.

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