[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 135 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING LT. COLONEL ROBERT VAUCHER ON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE NEW 
                      JERSEY AVIATION HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LEONARD LANCE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 2013

  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lt. Colonel Robert 
Vaucher, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, on his induction into the New 
Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame. Lt. Col. Vaucher enlisted in the US Army 
Air Corps in 1940 and served valiantly throughout the entirety of World 
War II. He has remained a presence in his community and in service to 
our country since.
  Lt. Col. Vaucher was first assigned to Central America in 1942, where 
he logged over 1,000 hours in the air protecting the Panama Canal. For 
his steadfast efforts he was selected to be part of the B-29 bomber 
test team, which was charged with testing and modifying the B-29 before 
it was ready for combat use. Lt. Col. Vaucher was the first pilot ever 
to fly the B-29 at an elevation of 38,000 feet. In recognition of his 
contributions to the B-29 program, he was selected as Mission Commander 
to lead 525 B-29s in a final show-of-force flight over General 
MacArthur's Japanese surrender signing ceremony on the USS Battleship 
Missouri.
  Lt. Col. Vaucher's courage and dedication in serving others continued 
long after he left the Air Force Reserve in 1962. He has been a local 
leader in Bridgewater Township for decades. His efforts helped lead to 
the establishment of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, 
the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Bridgewater Township 
sewage system. I applaud Lt. Col. Vaucher's decorated history of 
military and community service, and congratulate him for his induction 
into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame.

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