[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 165 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1969-E1970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING COLONEL LEON M. TANNENBAUM, USAF (RET.) FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY 
                      SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 1, 2011

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have this opportunity to 
rise on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to pay 
tribute to an outstanding veteran and Connecticut native, Colonel Leon 
M. Tannenbaum, USAF (Ret.), for his exemplary service as a fighter 
pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Today, 
as he celebrates his 93rd birthday, I am proud to highlight one mission 
in particular which showcases the staggering courage and bravery 
Colonel Tannenbaum and his colleagues demonstrated during this 
tumultuous time in our nation's history.
  Based at New Castle Army Air Base in Wilimington, Delaware, then 1st 
Lieutenant Leon Tannenbaum was a member of the 2nd Ferrying Group, 
Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command. A large part of their mission 
was the delivery of airplanes to the European Theatre. One of the most 
stirring performances of the 2nd Ferrying Group fliers occurred during 
the later part of July and first week of August, 1943. It was the 
unprecedented spanning of the treacherous North Atlantic route in the 
P-47, single-engine aircraft. While commonplace today, any trans-
Atlantic flight in the World War II era was a heroic feat. In fact, as 
a comparison, today's routes between the United States and Europe can 
be made in mere hours, whereas this mission took twenty-one days to 
complete.
  On July 23rd, 1943, ten P-47s left the Republic Factory in 
Farmingdale, New York and nine successfully reached their destination, 
Prestwick, Scotland. In addition to Colonel Tannenbaum, the pilots who 
undertook this mission included, Captain Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona; 
1st Lieutenants Morgan C. Walker of Maryland, Gerald R. Keyser of Ohio, 
Charles E. Rigney of New Hampshire, Rowland B. Armacost, Bernard J. 
Jendrezewski, Junior F. Klein, Rozier C. Murphey; and 2nd Lieutenant 
Louis Brawer. Though 1st Lieutenant Armacost's plane crash landed in 
Greenland, the other nine miraculously overcame intense weather and 
maintenance factors to complete the mission.

[[Page E1970]]

  As a point of fact, there were many missions involving trans-Atlantic 
aviation of twin-engine aircraft during World War II; and some that 
involved the successful completion of the flight in spite of the loss 
of one of the plane's engines. What makes Colonel Tannenbaum and these 
other nine pilots stand out is that this is the first, last, and only 
mission involving the single-engine P-47. Participation was voluntary 
and the inherent danger was obvious--lose your only engine over the 
North Atlantic and you would almost certainly perish with your plane. 
Yet each of these men, understanding the importance of the delivery to 
the war effort and demonstrating unique and incomparable bravery, chose 
to accept the mission. It is in this story of courage and valiance that 
we find the true definition of hero.
  Today, Colonel Tannenbaum celebrates his 93rd birthday, marking a 
milestone achieved by few. As he reflects on his many contributions to 
his country and community, I am honored to have this opportunity to 
thank him, on behalf of a grateful nation, for his invaluable service 
and recognize the unique contribution he made during that fateful 
mission in 1943. His is a story that is sure to inspire generations to 
come and he has left a legacy of military service to which many will 
aspire.

                          ____________________