[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE 5 NAVAL 
                  AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBERS OF FLIGHT 19

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
500, recognizing the 60th anniversary the disappearance of five Avenger 
warplanes and one of the rescue aircraft sent to retrieve the lost 
pilots. The six planes flying out of the Naval Air Station of Banan 
River on December 5, 1945 contained a total of 27 men. These brave men 
have never been recovered. Their planes and all of their equipment have 
never been found, either.
  As an interesting point, the disappearance of the planes happened 
somewhere off the eastern coast of Florida. The strange disappearance 
of these aircraft was the first incident in the lore of what became the 
story of the Bermuda Triangle. To date, the incident which we are 
acknowledging today is still the most cited example of strange 
occurrences in the Bermuda Triangle.
  Mr. Speaker, we should remember the bravery of these 27 men by 
acknowledging the anniversary of their disappearance. It is a tragedy 
that for so many years, the cause of the disappearance has remained 
unknown, leaving the families of the fallen pilots without answers.
  For over 225 years, the freedom of America has been maintained by the 
fighting men and women of our Nation's Armed Forces. These courageous 
soldiers, sailors and marines put their lives on the line every day to 
preserve the safety and security of our Nation. In honoring the 27 men 
lost on December 5, 1945, we also honor the hundreds of thousands of 
men and women of America's Armed Forces whose heroic actions go 
unheralded every day.
  In passing this resolution, we also honor the families of the fallen 
pilots, whose sacrifices on behalf of our country will never be 
forgotten.
  I strongly support H. Res. 500, and I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same.

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