[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING MILITARY SERVICE OF FOUNDERS OF STATE OF GEORGIA AIR 
        NATIONAL GUARD FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WING, 54TH FIGHTER WING.

  Ms. McKINNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the 
House out of order for 5 minutes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. McKINNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend, celebrate and 
commemorate the military service of Brigadier General ``Big John'' 
Collins, Lieutenant General Cuthbert A. ``Bill'' Patillo, Major General 
Charles C. ``Buck'' Patillo and Major General Joel B. ``Bill'' Paris.
  These four generals were, in the year 1946, founders of the first 
State of Georgia Air National Guard Fighter Aircraft Wing, the 54th 
Fighter Wing.
  Big John Collins is a friend of mine. This friendship began when my 
efforts resulted in him getting his long overdue war medals. Big John 
had tried for 20 years to get his medals. And he was a pilot. Bill and 
Buck Patillo are identical twin brothers who, along with Bill Paris, 
flew Republic Aircraft Corporation P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft. 
These four pilots formed a tight ``Diamond'' attack formation.
  These four pilots were ordered to fly at air shows around the State 
of Georgia to boost enlistments in the Georgia National Guard. The idea 
was a great success; so successful, in fact, that the increase in 
Georgia enlistments came to the attention of the National Guard Bureau 
at the U.S. Air Force headquarters at the Pentagon. This work of these 
four pilots was the foundation upon which the U.S. Air Force 
Thunderbirds Precision Flying Team was created to rank along with the 
Blue Angels Precision Flying Team of the U.S. Navy. Air Force Chief of 
Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg credited the Georgia Air National Guard 
with being the founders of the Air Force Thunderbirds Precision Flying 
Team.
  All four of these pilots are alive today. They are healthy, and they 
are happy to have their service recognized in this way. Although the 
Patillo twins now live in Valrico, Florida, near McDill Air Force Base, 
I am proud to say that they were born in my district in Decatur, 
Georgia. Bill Paris was born in my home State and still lives in 
Georgia, in Alpharetta. Big John Collins, my friend, was born in 
Oklahoma, raised in Bradenton, Florida, but saw the light and found his 
way to Georgia where he has lived since 1939. I think he found our 
sweet Georgia peaches too irresistible to leave.
  Bill Paris was a leading fighter pilot ace destroying nine Japanese 
aircraft. Bill Patillo destroyed a Japanese version of the German ME 
262 rocket-powered fighter, one of only three of such fighters 
destroyed worldwide in World War II. Plus Bill destroyed five other 
Japanese aircraft. Buck Patillo destroyed five Japanese aircraft. And 
big John Collins, my constituent who has now become my friend, shot 
down three Japanese fighter aircraft. Sergeant James Campbell shot down 
two Japanese fighter aircraft. Sergeant Donald Schopp shot down one 
Japanese fighter, making a total of six enemy fighters downed on one 
mission. Plus one Japanese war ship exiting Simpson Harbor at full 
speed was destroyed. Big John Collins led an attack on Tobera Air 
Drome, destroying numerous Japanese aircraft on the ground.
  Bill and Buck Patillo, Bill Paris and Big John Collins collectively 
received the following combat medals: 4 Silver Stars, 9 Distinguished 
Flying Crosses, 9 Legion of Merits, 36 Air Medals, 5 Distinguished 
Service Medals, 9 Presidential Unit Citations, 4 Government of the 
Philippines, 2 Croix de Guerre with Palm, US SWPA medal with 9 major 
campaign battle stars, 121 various noncombat service medals.
  Sixty years after the conclusion of World War II, all Americans 
should renew and rededicate their honor for the noble sacrifices, 
valorous deeds and enduring accomplishments of military veterans of 
what has become known as the greatest generation.
  I would also like to commend my sister colleague, Congresswoman Marcy 
Kaptur, who just spoke, who fought hard to get a memorial on the Mall 
for them, the greatest generation, including for my four Georgia 
pilots.
  Congratulations to them all for a job well done.

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