I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5887 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, jointly, to all U.S. nationals who 
joined the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Royal Air Force during 
World War II, both before and after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, 
in recognition of their contributions to the Nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 14, 2016 
Mr. RYAN of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal, jointly, to all U.S. 
nationals who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force or 
the Royal Air Force during World War II, both before 
and after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, in recognition 
of their contributions to the Nation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘RCAF/RAF-Americans 
Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Europe was at war before the end of 1939. 
England and her British Commonwealth of Nations, 
which included the Dominion of Canada, were war-
ring with Nazi Germany. 
(2) Early in World War II the Royal Canadian 
Air Force (RCAF) needed large numbers of pilots 
and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan 
(BCATP) made Canada a center for aircrew train-
ing. 
(3) Approximately 8,864 Americans volunteered 
to join the RCAF beginning as early as 1940 and 
continuing throughout World War II. These RCAF- 
Americans came from every state in the Union. 
(4) Many of the RCAF-Americans were ur-
gently needed as flying instructors and helped to 
fully staff the BCATP operations. 
(5) Approximately 750 Americans (244 with 
the highly regarded Eagle Squadrons) also served in 
Great Britain with the RAF. The Eagle Squadrons 
served from February, 1941, until September, 1942, 
and provided the British welcome relief from the 
stress of losing large numbers of combat pilots. 
(6) President Franklin Roosevelt called the 
BCATP the ‘‘Aerodrome Of Democracy’’. Canadian 
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Prime Minister Mackenzie King, General Dwight Ei-
senhower, and British Prime Minister Winston 
Churchill, all expressed their gratitude to the United 
States men and women who took part in the British 
Commonwealth Air Training Plan. 
(7) Approximately 3,794 Americans transferred 
to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) after the at-
tack on Pearl Harbor. The 3 Eagle Squadrons 
(No. 71/No. 121/No. 133), transferred into the 4th 
Fighter Group, USAAF in September 1942. 
(8) The transfer of these courageous RCAF/ 
RAF-Americans helped prevent a shortage of experi-
enced airmen in the aftermath of America’s entry 
into the war. 
(9) Many of these highly trained and experi-
enced RCAF/RAF-Americans pilots performed cru-
cial roles as flight instructors for the USAAF. 
(10) The accumulated knowledge and skills pos-
sessed by these RCAF/RAF-American airmen re-
sulted in many becoming highly accomplished 
USAAF combat pilots. 
(11) One of the most highly decorated military 
groups, the American Fighter Aces, can count many 
of these RCAF/RAF-Americans among their vener-
able ranks. 
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(12) These brave Americans left their families 
to join the RCAF/RAF and over 800 lost their lives 
while serving. They represent the exceptional cour-
age that has been displayed in the defense of Free-
dom throughout our Nation’s history. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 
for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a single 
gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of all 
U.S. nationals who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force 
or the Royal Air Force during World War II, both before 
and after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, in recognition 
of their contributions to the Nation. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the 
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary 
of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, 
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where 
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it will be available for display as appropriate and 
available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
the Congress that the Smithsonian Institution 
should make the gold medal awarded pursuant to 
this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly 
at appropriate locations associated with the U.S. na-
tionals described under subsection (a), and that 
preference should be given to locations affiliated 
with the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at 
a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, 
and the cost of the gold medal. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu-
ant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 
51 of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
Æ 
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