Don Nickles: “I recognize an American who honorably served our Nation for nearly 40 years. At the age of 25, Lieutenant Floyd Calvert…”

“I recognize an American who honorably served our Nation for nearly 40 years. At the age of 25, Lieutenant Floyd Calvert Jr., an Oklahoman and Cherokee Indian, served as a bomber pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps flying B-29 aircraft in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On June 1, 1945, Lt. Calvert and his crew of ten from the 504th Bomb Group took off from Tininan Island, in the Marianias to strike Osaka, Japan. Immediately after delivering his ordnance, his B-29 aircraft was hit and severely damaged by anti-aircraft artillery fire. Lt. Calvert's headset was blown off inflicting wounds in his scalp and left arm. His co-pilot was also wounded and unable to assist in flying the damaged B-29. With the right inboard engine on fire, Lt. Calvert placed his aircraft in a steep dive to extinguish the flames. With the fire out he tried in vain to feather the engine but the runaway propeller spun off and flew into the right outboard engine, creating a very grave situation with both engines on the right side inoperable. Lt. Calvert's crew decided to remain with the crippled B-29. Wounded and bleeding, Lt. Calvert flew solo toward the airfield at Iwo Jima.”