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[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 354 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 354

   Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of military aviation in Indiana.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

              August 11 (legislative day, August 10), 2021

     Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of military aviation in Indiana.

Whereas, on February 10, 1920, the Indiana National Guard was granted authority 
        by the Department of War to organize an air unit within its infantry 
        divisions;
Whereas, on August 1, 1921, the 137th Observation Squadron at Fagley Field in 
        Kokomo, Indiana, received recognition as an Indiana National Guard unit;
Whereas, on July 1, 1942, Bunker Hill Naval Air Station was established as a 
        training base for pilots of the United States Navy, United States Marine 
        Corps, and United States Coast Guard;
Whereas, in 1947, the United States Air Force was created as a separate armed 
        service, and the Indiana Air National Guard was formed, comprised of the 
        122nd Fighter Group, the 113th Fighter Squadron, the 113th Utility 
        Flight, the 112th Air Service Group, and the 113th Weather Station;
Whereas, on June 22, 1954, the former Bunker Hill Naval Air Station was reopened 
        as Bunker Hill Air Force Base;
Whereas, on February 1, 1959, the 38th Aviation Company, the aviation element of 
        the 38th Division of the Indiana Army National Guard, was formed and 
        federally recognized;
Whereas, on May 12, 1968, Bunker Hill Air Force Base was renamed in honor of 
        Lieutenant Colonel Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, a native of Indiana and 1 
        of 3 astronauts that perished in the Apollo 1 capsule fire;
Whereas, on January 15, 1971, the 434th Special Operations Wing was reactivated 
        at Grissom Air Reserve Base;
Whereas the 434th Special Operations Wing has been redesignated overtime and 
        today is designated as the 434th Air Refueling Wing and colloquially 
        known as the ``Hoosier Wing'';
Whereas the original components of the Indiana Air National Guard and the 38th 
        Division aviation element have been reorganized over time and today are 
        designated as the 122nd Fighter Wing, 181st Intelligence Wing, and the 
        38th Combat Aviation Brigade;
Whereas the Indiana Air National Guard is the aerial militia of the State of 
        Indiana and an element of the Indiana National Guard;
Whereas members of the Indiana Air National Guard and the 38th Combat Aviation 
        Brigade serve to protect Hoosiers during State emergencies and in 
        national and international times of crisis;
Whereas the mission of the Indiana Air National Guard is to--

    (1) provide protection of life and property, while preserving peace, 
order, and public safety; and

    (2) maintain well-trained, well-equipped units for prompt mobilization 
during war and national emergencies;

Whereas the mission of the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade is to--

    (1) mobilize, deploy, and conduct full spectrum aviation operations in 
support of the 38th Infantry Division to respond to State emergencies and 
directed missions throughout Indiana; and

    (2) mobilize, deploy, and conduct aviation operations to provide 
freedom of maneuver to United States and coalition forces during war time;

Whereas the mission of the 434th Air Refueling Wing is to--

    (1) develop and maintain the operational capability of units and train 
reservists for worldwide duty; and

    (2) generate aircraft and crews in support of Air Mobility Command;

Whereas aviation units from Indiana have served in various international 
        conflicts since their inception, including the Korean War, the Berlin 
        Crisis, the Persian Gulf War, and Operation Decisive Endeavor;
Whereas the units have also served in the Global War on Terrorism, engaging in 
        Operation Noble Eagle air defense over United States cities and 
        deploying overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Odyssey Dawn;
Whereas the Indiana Air National Guard is one of 29 original observation 
        squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed prior to World 
        War II;
Whereas the aviation units of Indiana have earned numerous awards over the 100 
        year history of military aviation in Indiana;
Whereas military aviation in Indiana is currently composed of--

    (1) the 122nd Fighter Wing stationed in Fort Wayne;

    (2) the 181st Intelligence Wing stationed in Terre Haute;

    (3) the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade headquartered in Indianapolis; and

    (4) the 434th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Grissom Air Reserve Base; 
and

Whereas, August 1, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of military aviation in 
        Indiana: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates August 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of 
        military aviation in Indiana; and
            (2) recognizes the continued service of the Indiana Air 
        National Guard, the Aviation Brigade of the Indiana Army 
        National Guard, and the 434th Air Refueling Wing of the United 
        States Air Force Reserve Command.
                                 <all>
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