Dedication Address at Air Force Museum Memorial Park
BY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DAVID T. MCKNIGHT, COL. USAF (RET’D)
SEPTEMBER 17, 1988
My greetings and welcome to all as we gather here to dedicate our memorial monument as it takes its place with those of other distinguished units of WWII similarly honored here.
You will note from the other monuments that there are many combat aircraft represented, but we hold most dear the one that served the 95th so well, the B-17. Those who flew her knew what a nearly indestructible and forgiving friend she was, and many of us here today owe our lives to that rugged friend!!
However, the realities of warfare dictate that despite the competency of crews and the efficiency of weaponry, combat losses are inevitable. Certainly the history of the 95th gives painful affirmation of that fact.
We had barely begun combat operations when we received a painful baptism in the form of a ground accident that cost the lives of 19 men and caused severe injuries to 20 others.
It happened just 15 days after the ground echelon had landed and the ground crews were busily engaged in preparing the aircraft for a combat mission. Suddenly and without warning, the bomb load on one aircraft inexplicably exploded causing the injuries and loss of life I have just described. In addition to our personnel losses, four aircraft were completely destroyed, and 11 others were put out of commission for a long period of time.
Seventeen days later our losses in a raid on Kiel cost us 10 aircraft out of 16 dispatched. A heartbreaking loss of 103 crewmen that could have completely shattered the character of a less determined group of men. The 95th survived and pressed on.
Those ordeals, rather than breaking the spirit of this proud Group, actually were important factors in transforming a body of well-trained but inexperienced young men into a resolute and determined fighting team!
It was a lesson that the members of the 95th never forgot – that every member of the 95th Group and every member of each of its support groups was a vital part of the total fighting team. The cooks, the military police, the medics, the maintenance people – the list goes on – all were vital parts of the team, and we were not capable of functioning without each other.
All were equal partners in contributing to a successful victory over the most vicious war machine that ever threatened the free World.
From those early grievous events the Group proceeded to establish its reputation as one of the premier units of the 8th Air Force.
It is said that statistics are cold and boring except to those who experience them; but bear with me as I mention just a few of the numbers that are proudly reflected in our records:
We flew 321 Combat Missions
We lost 157 B-17’s
We destroyed 425 enemy aircraft
We were the only 8th Air Force Bomb Group to receive three Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations. The citations were for successful missions to Regensburg and Munster and that great blow to the morale of the Third Reich – to Berlin on 4 March 1944. This first daylight Bombing of Berlin was led by Grif Mumford, Al Brown, Hal Powers, Bill Owen and their outstanding crews.
One tragic statistic, however, is the loss of over 600 men killed in action, killed in service, or missing in action. A stark reminder that our contribution for peace was an expensive one indeed.
A more complete summary of the Group’s statistics – including these – is etched on the bronze plaques which are attached to our monument to be seen and read by one-to-two million Air Force Museum visitors each year in the future, and I am sure by many of our families and friends in those years to come.
As we pay homage to those brave men who gave their lives in WWII, let us also salute the memories of our 95th comrades who have passed away in the years since that awesome undertaking.
Let us recognize and cherish, too, those whose love kept our families and homes together. As we fought to protect them, they also fought a lonely battle that in many ways was just as difficult as ours. This monument is dedicated to them, also.
As our ranks do grow thinner, we leave behind us here a lasting message as well as a monument. The message is that freedom is not maintained without vigilance and sacrifice. Our young men who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom knew that, but fought the fight willingly and with full knowledge of the possible consequences.
May the monuments we see around us here today inspire future generations to show the same courage and fortitude to meet all challenges to the freedom of the United States of America and the free world.