[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12310-12311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, as we celebrate the U.S. Navy's 
centennial of aviation, I would like to personally recognize the 
exceptional contributions of the men and women, past and present, who 
have served at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
  From the base's commissioning day on September 21, 1942, to the 
present, it has been the mission-ready men and women of Naval Air 
Station Whidbey Island who have protected the skies of the Pacific 
Northwest and projected power throughout the world.
  A long tradition of excellence began on Whidbey Island during World 
War II when it was named Ault Field, in memory of Commander William B. 
Ault who was missing in action following the Battle of the Coral Sea. 
During the war, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island's patrol planes flew 
long-range navigation training missions over the North Pacific to 
protect the Pacific Northwest from the real threat of attack that 
gripped Alaska and the region. During this period, the earliest 
squadrons of F4F Wildcats, PV-1 Venturas, F6F Hellcats and SDB 
Dauntless's, also etched their place in U.S. Navy's distinguished 
history.
  Naval Air Station Whidbey Island continued their legacy of excellence 
throughout each subsequent conflict. Their patrol planes proved to be 
paramount to successful operations during the Korean War and their 
initial deployments to Southeast Asia in 1972. Today, Naval Air Station 
Whidbey Island remains the premier naval aviation installation in the 
Pacific Northwest.
  Currently the proud home of the EA-6B Prowlers, EA-18G Growlers, P-3 
Orions and the EP-3E Aries, I know Naval Air Station Whidbey Island 
will continue to protect not only the Pacific

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Northwest, but the whole United States, for the next 100 years.
  In recognition of the past century's naval aviation achievements, I 
would truly like to thank the men and women both in and out of uniform 
and the veterans of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for their service 
and sacrifice.

                          ____________________