[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E176-E177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HAPPY HOOLIGANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 2007

  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, on January 16, I joined the Happy 
Hooligans and the North Dakota Air National Guard in celebrating their 
60th Anniversary. This unit--the 119th Fighting Wing, now rechristened 
the 119th Wing--has served our nation for the better part of the last 
century, and their dedicated commitment to our Nation's defense will 
only continue in the coming years.
  I can remember being at the Capitol on September 11th and one year 
later, being at

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the Pentagon to recognize those pilots from the 119th Fighter Wing, who 
were flying vigil that day and in fact, did the first fly-over of the 
Pentagon after the attack. These moments will forever be part of the 
Hooligans' history.
  This unit demonstrated time and again a commitment to excellence in 
flying fighter aircraft. The William Tell competition, which pits the 
top fighter units from across the country, was won by the 119th three 
times. The unit won the Hughes Achievement Award for air defense twice. 
It only makes sense to provide such a skilled and decorated unit a 
mission for the new century consistent with the evolution of the United 
States Air Force.
  We know about our two new missions--the C-21s and the Predators--but 
what we don't yet know is how exactly the Hooligans will make their 
next entry into the history books with those aircraft. Ultimately, the 
119th is about the people that make it up and those people have a 
record of accomplishment and great service to our Nation.
  The 119th changes its mission, but brings with it an enviable record 
for flying safety. The unit was awarded the Flight Safety Trophy four 
times in the past seven years. Since 1990, the ``Happy Hooligans'' have 
flown more than 70,000 hours in F-16 aircraft without an accident from 
dozens of locations around the world, in a variety of weather 
conditions, during daylight and nighttime hours. That achievement 
coupled with hours of accident free flying in F-4 fighters and flight 
hours in F-101 fighter aircraft is one of the best safety records in 
U.S. Air Force history.
  The pilots and other personnel in Fargo today who have stood up to 
terrorists and stood for freedom to protect the United States are 
remarkable heroes and their stories will ring true for many years in 
our hearts and our history books.

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