[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROBERT SPEED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man 
whose bravery in the face of danger is now being honored some 63 years 
later.
  Robert Speed served in the Air Force during World War II. During a 
bombing mission over the Ploesti Oil Fields on July 15, 1944, the B-24 
that Mr. Speed and his crew were flying in came under heavy anti-
aircraft fire. The plane lost an engine and lost contact with their 
squadron. Although the aircraft took on significant damage, the crew 
managed to evade enemy aircraft, complete its bombing mission and 
return to Pantanella, Italy.
  The Ploesti Oil Fields, located in eastern Romania, were a 
significant source of petroleum Hitler used to fuel his war machine. 
The bombing runs well into enemy territory were dangerous, but 
crucially important to the Allied effort.
  The very next day after the Ploesti bombing mission, Mr. Speed and 
his crew were shot down and held as POWs for the remainder of World War 
II. This turn of events resulted in an administrative oversight on the 
part of the Air Force and Mr. Speed and his crew went unrecognized for 
63 years.
  The oldest in a family of 9 children, Mr. Speed was born May 21, 
1922, in Blue Mountain, Alabama. After the war he moved to Mobile, AL 
to get a job at Brookley Air Force Base where he was employed as a 
civilian until he retired. He still lives in Mobile. His son describes 
his father as typical of his generation in that ``he never talked much 
about what happened in the war and never asked for anything. He really 
is just a regular guy who found himself in extraordinary circumstances 
while serving his country.''
  I am pleased that Mr. Speed will finally be recognized with the 
Distinguished Flying Cross award on April 24. I congratulate Mr. Speed 
on the long overdue reception of his award and I thank him for his 
honorable service to our Nation.

                          ____________________