[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.
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