[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 117 (Thursday, August 2, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6010-S6011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMENDING THE ``DOOLITTLE TOKYO RAIDERS''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Armed 
Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
418, and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 418) commending the 80 brave men who 
     became known as the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'' for 
     outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United 
     States during the bombing of Tokyo and 5 other targets on the 
     island of Honshu on April 18, 1942, during the Second World 
     War.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Brown of 
Ohio substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the 
resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Brown of Ohio amendment to 
the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; the 
Brown of Ohio title amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action 
or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record, as if 
read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2776) was agreed to, as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:
     That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the valor, skill, and courage of the Raiders 
     that proved invaluable to the eventual defeat of Japan during 
     the Second World War;
       (2) acknowledges that the actions of the Raiders helped to 
     forge an enduring example of heroism in the face of 
     uncertainty for the Army Air Force of the Second World War, 
     the future of the Air Force, and the United States as a 
     whole; and
       (3) commends the 5 living members and 80 original members 
     of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for their participation in the 
     Tokyo bombing raid of April 18, 1942.

  The resolution (S. Res. 418), as amended, was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2777) was agreed to, as follows:

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant 
     Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an ``extremely 
     hazardous mission'' without knowing the target, location, or 
     assignment and willingly put their lives in harm's way, 
     risking death, capture, and torture;
       Whereas the conducting of medium bomber operations from a 
     Navy aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never 
     before been attempted;
       Whereas after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese 
     picket ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged 
     launch point, the Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles 
     from the coast of Japan;
       Whereas by launching more than 100 miles beyond the 
     distance considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the 
     Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B-25s might 
     not have enough fuel to reach the designated airfields in 
     China;
       Whereas the additional launch distance greatly increased 
     the risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, 
     exposing the crews to higher probability of death, injury, or 
     capture;
       Whereas because of that deliberate choice, after bombing 
     their targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and 
     deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the 
     prearranged Chinese airfields;
       Whereas of the 80 Raiders who launched on the raid, 8 were 
     captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70 returned to the United 
     States; and
       Whereas of the 8 captured, 3 were executed and 1 died of 
     disease: Now, therefore, be it

  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2778) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read ``Commemorating the 70th 
     anniversary and commending the brave men of the 17th 
     Bombardment Group (Medium) who became known as the 
     ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'' for outstanding heroism, valor, 
     skill, and service to the United States in conducting the 
     bombing of Tokyo on April 18, 1942.''


[[Page S6011]]


  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:

                              S. Res. 418

       Whereas brave American aircraft crewmen, led by Lieutenant 
     Colonel James Doolittle, volunteered for an ``extremely 
     hazardous mission'' without knowing the target, location, or 
     assignment and willingly put their lives in harm's way, 
     risking death, capture, and torture;
       Whereas the conducting of medium bomber operations from a 
     Navy aircraft carrier under combat conditions had never 
     before been attempted;
       Whereas after the discovery of the USS Hornet by Japanese 
     picket ships 170 miles further away from the prearranged 
     launch point, the Raiders proceeded to take off 670 miles 
     from the coast of Japan;
       Whereas by launching more than 100 miles beyond the 
     distance considered to be minimally safe for the mission, the 
     Raiders deliberately accepted the risk that the B-25s might 
     not have enough fuel to reach the designated air-fields in 
     China;
       Whereas the additional launch distance greatly increased 
     the risk of crash landing in Japanese occupied China, 
     exposing the crews to higher probability of death, injury, or 
     capture;
       Whereas because of that deliberate choice, after bombing 
     their targets in Japan, low on fuel and in setting night and 
     deteriorating weather, none of the 16 airplanes reached the 
     prearranged Chinese airfields;
       Whereas of the 80 Raiders who launched on the raid, 8 were 
     captured, 2 died in the crash, and 70 returned to the United 
     States; and
       Whereas of the 8 captured, 3 were executed and 1 died of 
     disease: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the valor, skill, and courage of the Raiders 
     that proved invaluable to the eventual defeat of Japan during 
     the Second World War;
       (2) acknowledges that the actions of the Raiders helped to 
     forge an enduring example of heroism in the face of 
     uncertainty for the Army Air Force of the Second World War, 
     the future of the Air Force, and the United States as a 
     whole; and
       (3) commends the 5 living members and 80 original members 
     of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for their participation in the 
     Tokyo bombing raid of April 18, 1942.

                          ____________________