[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE 
                      MISSION INTO BERLIN, GERMANY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DEVIN NUNES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2015

  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, Tuesday, September 29th marks the 25th 
anniversary of the last covert U.S. airborne reconnaissance mission 
flown into Berlin, Germany, by the U.S. Air Force aircrews 
affectionately known as the ``Berlin for Lunch Bunch.'' From the 
beginning of the Cold War, these aircrews flew combat reconnaissance 
missions within the Russian-controlled airspace of the Berlin access 
corridors and the Berlin Control Zone. From 1946 to 1990, these Airmen 
conducted over fifteen thousand unarmed reconnaissance flights, 
monitoring the massed forces of the Group Soviet Forces in Germany and 
the East German military. The highly modified aircraft flew low and 
slow over the many Soviet and East German military facilities, 
collecting photographic and other intelligence that provided NATO the 
indications and warning information necessary to prepare for a Central 
European war. Their accomplishments are truly part of our proud 
American and allied intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance 
history, and it is my honor to acknowledge their sacrifices for all of 
us.
  Thank you, and well done ``Berlin for Lunch Bunch!''

                          ____________________