[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22809]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       HONORING MIKE QUERING FROM THE SIXTH DISTRICT OF COLORADO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, today I honor a constituent of mine from 
the Sixth Congressional District of Colorado, Mike Quering, and join 
others throughout the state of Colorado in recognizing the efforts of 
the Eighth Air Force and proclaim every October 8-14 as Mighty Eighth 
Air Force Week.
  Mike is a member of the Eighth Air Force, which was formed and 
dispatched to England in 1942 to become the largest military unit in 
World War II, and the largest bomber force of all time. Over 350,000 
airmen served in Europe and the Eighth Air Force has continued as an 
operational combat unit to this day with over one million serving our 
country in war and in peace.
  In the one week period between October 8-14, 1943, the Eighth Air 
Force lost over 100 Heavy Bombers to enemy action over the skies of 
Europe, and despite heavy losses, many feel that this was the turning 
point for daylight strategic bombing. Targets during the week were as 
follows: on October 8th, over Bremen, Germany, the force lost 14 
bombers and 3 fighters; on October 9th, over Anklam, Germany, they lost 
6 bombers; on October 10th, over Munster, Germany, the Eighth Air Force 
lost 30 bombers and 1 fighter; and on October 14th, over Schweinfurt, 
Germany, the force lost 60 bombers and 1 fighter.
  I think it is important, at this time, to point out that no Mighty 
Eighth mission was ever turned back due to enemy action--at a cost of 
26,000 killed in action and over 28,000 taken as prisoners of war. The 
number of missing in action and wounded have even today not been 
counted.
  The Eighth Air Force Historical Society, the largest single military 
unit veterans group in history, holds its annual reunions in the month 
of October and today 20,000 Eighth Air Force Historical Society members 
are seeking to inform future generations of the contribution and 
sacrifice made by their generation to perpetuate America's freedom and 
way of life.
  The Mighty Eighth stands as proof to America and the rest of the 
world of the sacrifices that our World War II veterans made to ensure 
that freedom and democracy survive and flourish around the world.
  And so, as many proud veterans do every year during the week of 
October 8-14, I rise to proclaim this week of October 8-14 as Mighty 
Eighth Air Force Week. I would also ask every Eighth Air Force veteran 
and friend of the Eighth to wear and display items identifying them 
with The Mighty Eighth to honor and remember their comrades and 
especially those who made the supreme sacrifice.

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