[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21267]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO THE 98TH BOMBARDMENT VETERANS ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 3, 2003

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a 
group whose sacrifices, patriotism, and contributions to our country 
are immeasurable. I am honored that the 98th Bombardment Veterans 
Association will be having their annual reunion in my congressional 
district this year. Their distinguished history is one of duty, honor, 
courage and sacrifice.
  The 98th Bombardment Group was constituted on January 28, 1942, at 
Barksdale Field, Louisiana. They were activated on February 3, 1942, at 
McDill Field, Florida with B-24 Liberator Bombers and continued their 
training at Ft. Myers and Drane Field, Florida.
  On July 15, 1942, the 98th was alerted and departed for the Middle 
East, arriving in Palestine in late July. The 98th was initially 
assigned to the United States Middle East Air Force. They flew their 
first mission to Mersa Metruh on August 1, 1942.
  One of their most famous missions was on August 1, 1943 when 47 B-24s 
launched for a low-level raid to Ploesti and only 21 returned safely. 
The Group Commander, Colonel John R. Kane was awarded the Medal of 
Honor for his leadership. On another raid on Ploesti on July 9, 1944, 
Lieutenant Donald Pucket sacrificed his life trying to save three of 
his crewmembers who could not or would not bail out of their aircraft. 
He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice.
  The 98th continued the campaign against Nazi forces during the rest 
of World War II, flying a total of 417 missions and earning a total of 
15 battle streamers as well as two Presidential Citations. The 98th 
returned to the U.S. in April of 1945 and was re-designated the 98th 
Bombardment Group.
  In 1950, with the beginning of the Korean Conflict, the 98th arrived 
at Yokota Air Base, Japan and flew their first mission to Korea on 
August 7, 1950. The 98th repeatedly flew against the North Korean 
Communist forces until the cease fire in 1953. From August 1950 to July 
1953, the 98th flew more that 5,000 sorties and dropped more than 
40,000 tons of bombs. They earned 10 battle streamers and two 
Outstanding Unit Awards. They also received the South Korean 
Presidential Citation. Over the next several years the 98th would be 
re-designated, inactivated and reactivated until it found its current 
home as the 98th Range Wing at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
  In 1949, Colonel Salvator Manzo, a former commander of the 98th 
Bombardment Group during World War II, began the idea of forming a 
veterans association for the 98th. In 1976 his idea became a reality 
when the 98th Bombardment Group Memorial Veterans Association was 
formed. B-29 and B-47 veterans were invited to join the group and 
spouses of deceased 98th veterans are given an honorary membership.
  The week of September 2-6, 2003, the group will hold its annual 
reunion and ceremonies at the March Air Field Museum where 
commemorative tiles will be laid in honor of the 98th for their service 
and, in addition, their association name will be added to the 
prestigious ``Flyers Wall'' at the Historic Mission Inn. Our country is 
forever indebted to those individuals willing to make the ultimate 
sacrifice so that the rest of us may live freely and without fear. I 
consider it an honor and privilege to welcome the 98th Bombardment 
Veterans Association to my district to celebrate and remember their 
distinguished history; they are truly living legends.

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