On the recordApril 7, 2025
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor World War II ace pilot and Johnstown native, Lieutenant Colonel Boyd ``Buzz'' Wagner. Buzz completed his flight training in 1938 before he was assigned to the Philippines. When Japanese forces attacked the Philippines in December of 1941, Buzz quickly shot down five Japanese planes, making him the first ace pilot of World War II. By April of the following year, Buzz was credited with eight air-to- air kills, as well as numerous successful bombing runs on Japanese airfields, one of which earned him the Distinguished Service Cross citation. Though he tragically passed away in November of 1942 during a training flight in Alabama, Buzz's legacy lives on as an inspiration to all aspiring aviators. Congratulating University of Florida Forward Thomas Haugh
