Political Quotes

“Today I rise to honor Lieutenant Colonel Robert Barraclough. Retired from the United States Air Force in 1968, Colonel Barraclough's record of service is impressive. During World War II, Barraclough was a bomber pilot flying missions over German-occupied territory. These dangerous bombing missions had high casualty rates. Between mechanical problems, lack of fuel, enemy fighters and enemy ground fire, nearly 26,000 airmen lost their lives in the ``Mighty 8th'' Air Force during the war. However, after switching out of the B- 24 Liberators and into the B-17 Flying Fortresses, Barraclough flew 32 missions in the 490th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force and was made group commander. Perhaps one of his greatest accomplishments was that his leadership resulted in the lowest casualty rates of all the squadrons and groups in the 8th Air Force during the entire war. Keeping his group's pilots rotated and rested, flying in tight formations to concentrate firepower, German observation planes could not find an easy plan of assault on the formation. Today I honor Lieutenant Colonel Barraclough, and I thank him again for his dedicated service to our country. ____________________”