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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 604 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 604

   Expressing the nation's sincerest appreciation and thanks for the 
service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) upon the 
 occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 1, 2007

Mr. McCotter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Expressing the nation's sincerest appreciation and thanks for the 
service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) upon the 
 occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association.

Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on February 3, 1942, 
        at Pendleton Field, Oregon, and trained at Gowen Field, Idaho, from 
        February 13, 1942, until June 12, 1942;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) was stationed in Molesworth, England, 
        and comprised of the 358th Bombardment Squadron, the 359th Bombardment 
        Squadron, the 360th Bombardment Squadron, and the 427th Bombardment 
        Squadron;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H), also known as ``Hell's Angels'', was 
        activated on September 12, 1942, and bravely fought in World War II;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) support personnel sailed on the Queen 
        Mary on September 5, 1942, and arrived at Greenock, Scotland, on 
        September 11, 1942, the flight crews flew to Kellogg Field, Michigan, 
        then to Dow Field, Maine, to start their flights to England across the 
        Atlantic Ocean;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) flew its first combat mission on 
        November 17, 1942, and its last mission on April 25, 1945;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group's B-17 ``Hell's Angels'' was the first to 
        successfully complete 25 combat missions on May 13, 1943, 6 days prior 
        to the ``Memphis Belle's'' same accomplishment;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) flew 364 combat missions against enemy 
        targets, the most of any B-17 Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force during 
        World War II;
Whereas two 303rd Bombardment Group (H) airmen were awarded the Congressional 
        Medal of Honor, four were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, 33 
        were awarded the Silver Star, and approximately 1,200 Purple Hearts were 
        awarded for those killed or wounded in action;
Whereas the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) adopted the motto ``Might in Flight'' in 
        October 1942 and lived up to it on each of their 364 combat missions;
Whereas 165 aircraft in the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) were listed as missing 
        in action (MIA);
Whereas the original 303rd Bombardment Group (H) was deactivated on July 25, 
        1945, at Casablanca;
Whereas the veterans of the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) formed the 303rd Bomb 
        Group (H) Association in 1975 to provide opportunities for 303rd 
        veterans, families, and friends to meet;
Whereas the veterans of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association memorialize and 
        perpetuate the memory of 303rd Bombardment Group (H) comrades lost 
        during World War II, and who have since passed away;
Whereas due to age and the declining health of the 303rd Bombardment Group (H) 
        veterans, the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association Board of Directors has 
        made the difficult decision to dissolve the Association at the end of 
        2007; and
Whereas the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association's final reunion will be held in 
        Washington, DC, on September 19, 2007 through September 23, 2007: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the dedicated men and women who served in the 8th Air 
        Force, 303rd Bombardment Group (H), ``Hell's Angels'', 
        including the nearly 5,000 listed as missing in action, during 
        World War II are heroes and champions of American freedom; and
            (2) the House of Representatives, on behalf of a grateful 
        nation, recognizes the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group 
        (H) Association and commends the honorable members of the 
        Association, who never once turned away from their assigned 
        target, for their selfless service to our country.
                                 <all>
```