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78S40757 MMS-D
By: Swinford H.R. No. 140
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, For exceptional achievement in the field of
aviation, Wesley R. "Bob" Izzard of Amarillo is being inducted into
the Distinguished Flying Corps Hall of Fame by the Texas Aviation
Historical Society on May 31, 2004; and
WHEREAS, Born in Urbana, Illinois, on July 18, 1923,
Mr. Izzard grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High
School in 1940; he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps on December 26,
1943, and over the ensuing months he flew 150 missions as a fighter
pilot in Europe; the battles and campaigns in which he was engaged
included the Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe, Air Offensive
Europe, Northern France, and Normandy; and
WHEREAS, On June 8, 1944, two days after D-Day, his plane was
disabled by enemy fire and he was forced to bail out over
German-occupied France; assisted by a farmer and by members of the
French Resistance, he eluded German soldiers for more than three
months before he was able to rejoin his comrades; and
WHEREAS, The following year, First Lieutenant Izzard won the
Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic actions over Germany;
while participating in combined ground-air operations on March 9,
1945, he was compelled by poor weather conditions to fly at a
dangerously low altitude; in spite of heavy damage to his P-47
Thunderbolt, he continued to aggressively bomb and strafe a large
German convoy until his ammunition gave out, and his vigorous
assault, conducted without regard for his personal safety, played a
significant role in enabling the Allied ground forces in that
sector to advance; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Izzard was released from active duty on November
23, 1945, having also earned the Purple Heart, the Presidential
Unit Citation, and the Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters; and
WHEREAS, Back in the States, Mr. Izzard completed a
bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois in 1947 and then
returned to Amarillo, where he worked for many years as a radio and
television journalist; this esteemed Texan served as news director
at KGNC-AM-FM-TV from 1948 to 1970 and also covered the Vietnam War;
and
WHEREAS, After retiring as a newsman, Mr. Izzard established
Tangleaire Press with his wife, the late Kathryn Mary Richart, and
began writing books; he has published two volumes about his
experiences as a fighter pilot, as well as a number of works
concerning the Red River War; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Izzard maintains membership in the P-47
Thunderbolt Pilots Association, Escape and Evasion Society, and
Texas Aviation Historical Society; and
WHEREAS, It is altogether fitting that Mr. Izzard be
recognized for his valiant service as a fighter pilot with the U.S.
Army Air Corps and that a chronicle of his outstanding military
record be preserved at the English Field Air & Space Museum for this
and future generations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby honor Wesley R. "Bob"
Izzard on his induction into the Distinguished Flying Corps Hall of
Fame by the Texas Aviation Historical Society; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Izzard as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.