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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The history of Naval Aviation Torpedo Squadron Three |
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(VT-3) in World War II is one of heroism, sacrifice, and high |
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achievement; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Saratoga |
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before the war, VT-3 operated from the carrier Yorktown (CV-5) in |
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1942 during the pivotal Battle of Midway, losing many pilots and |
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planes; and |
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WHEREAS, The following year the reconstituted squadron |
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accompanied the Saratoga to the South Pacific, where it flew combat |
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missions and provided air cover for American forces in and around |
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the Solomon Islands; and |
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WHEREAS, The squadron returned to Sand Point Naval Air |
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Station in Seattle in late 1943, at which time older members were |
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reassigned to other units and new members were added to the group; |
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after training in various locations in Washington state and Hawaii, |
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the squadron returned to combat duty in November 1944, as part of |
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Carrier Air Group 3 (CVG-3), operating from the new Essex class |
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carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10); and |
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WHEREAS, Flying Grumman TBF and TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, |
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the brave pilots of VT-3 saw a good deal of action for the next 16 |
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months; in the Philippines they supported the invasions of Leyte |
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and Luzon, and from the South China Sea, they flew missions against |
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targets in Indochina, Formosa, Hong Kong, and Okinawa; they |
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contributed to the end of the war by taking part in the first |
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carrier strikes against Tokyo and by providing air support for the |
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invasion of Iwo Jima; and |
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WHEREAS, In March, 1945, the squadron returned to the Naval |
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Auxiliary Air Facility in Lewiston, Maine, where it stayed until |
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the end of the war; and |
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WHEREAS, For its long and exemplary service, VT-3 earned four |
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Presidential Unit Citations and six Asiatic-Pacific Campaign |
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Medals; Lieutenant Frank F. Frazier was awarded the Silver Star for |
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his actions against enemy targets in Formosa; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1986 the veterans of VT-3 have been meeting in |
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reunions, first on their old ship, the Yorktown, now moored in |
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Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and later in various locations |
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around the country; out of the 94 officers and men who served with |
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the squadron, 40 have been located; and |
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WHEREAS, With courage and selfless devotion to their country |
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and to each other, the men of Torpedo Squadron Three fought hard in |
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defense of freedom, flying dangerous missions in difficult |
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circumstances, and these honorable veterans have earned the lasting |
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respect and gratitude of their fellow citizens; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the members of Naval Aviation Torpedo |
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Squadron Three for their valiant service during World War II and |
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extend to them sincere best wishes for the future. |
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Quintanilla |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1427 was adopted by the House on April |
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27, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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