TITLE: Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Lend-Lease Act and of the founding of the No. 1 British Flying Training School.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Lend-Lease Act and of the founding of the No. 1 British Flying Training School.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell is marking the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Lend-Lease Act and of the school's founding on April 7, 2011; and WHEREAS, In the summer of 1940, Britain lost 11 destroyers to the German navy in less than two weeks, and newly elected prime minister Winston Churchill requested help from United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt; the United States had not yet entered the war, but under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, it provided arms and supplies to the nations already fighting the Axis powers, and the British Royal Air Force sent crews to six civilian training schools in the United States, where they could benefit from better weather conditions and learn their craft while safe from enemy bombers; and WHEREAS, The No. 1 British Flying Training School in Terrell, the first and largest of the six schools, opened three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor; the RAF cadets received ground training in England and then traveled by ship to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for more training in navigation and meteorology; before arriving in Texas, some had never been in an airplane before, or even driven a car; in Terrell, they trained in the air on aerobatics, instrument flight, and night flying, spent time on early flight simulators, and also studied navigation, meteorology, engines, and armaments; and WHEREAS, Between 1941 and 1945, residents of Terrell and Kaufman County welcomed more than 2,000 RAF pilots, and lifelong bonds of friendship were formed; in addition, some three dozen trainees met their wives in the United States and returned to live in Texas and other states; 200 American pilots eventually trained at the school as well; and WHEREAS, Aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and veterans alike are drawn to the museum's fascinating holdings, which include log books, training materials, uniforms, and memorabilia; to support further research and the recovery of artifacts, the institution has partnered with Shearwater Aviation Museum in Halifax; and WHEREAS, The archives of the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum document an extraordinary time period and the contributions of Terrell and Kaufman County residents to the war effort; declaring "The seas divide but the skies unite," the museum's emblem pays tribute to the enduring links forged among Britain, Canada, and the United States through the Lend-Lease program; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Lend-Lease Act and of the founding of the No. 1 British Flying Training School and extend to all those participating in the celebration sincere best wishes for a memorable event; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Gooden Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1095 was adopted by the House on April 14, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House