07 LC 96
2724
Senate
Resolution 626
By:
Senator Douglas of the 17th
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
Lieutenant General Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo, Major General Charles C. "Buck"
Pattillo, Major General Joel B. "Bill" Paris III, and Brigadier General John
F."Big John" Collins; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
in l946, Lieutenant General Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo, Major General Charles
C. "Buck" Pattillo, Major General Joel B. "Bill" Paris III, and Brigadier
General John F."Big John" Collins founded the first State of Georgia Air
National Guard Fighter Aircraft Wing, the 54th Fighter Wing; and
WHEREAS,
in 1946, "Big John" Collins was a National Guard Captain and the pilot of an
A-26 Douglas Aircraft Company low altitude two engine attack bomber;
and
WHEREAS,
during missions, identical twin brothers and First Lieutenants "Bill" and "Buck"
Pattillo flew in tight formation on the left and right wings of Collins' A-26
with National Guard Captain "Bill" Paris taking position behind and under the
bomber, completing what is known as a "diamond" attack formation;
and
WHEREAS,
Brigadier General George G. Finch, the State of Georgia Deputy Adjutant General
for the Georgia Air National Guard, ordered this team of four exceptional pilots
to perform exercises at air shows around the State of Georgia to promote the
armed forces and boost enlistment in the Georgia National Guard;
and
WHEREAS,
due to the extraordinary performance of these four pilots, the air shows were a
brilliant success, significantly increasing recruitment and gaining the
recognition of the National Guard Bureau at U.S. Air Force Headquarters at the
Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS,
with the enthusiastic support of Air Force Chief-of-Staff Hoyt Vandenberg, the
Georgia Air National Guard flight team became the foundation for the U.S. Air
Force "Thunderbird Precision Flying Team," a world-class team of pilots ranking
alongside the U.S. Air Force "Blue Angels Precision Flying Team";
and
WHEREAS,
"Bill" and "Buck" Pattillo, "Bill" Paris, and "Big John" Collins were four of
the most decorated pilots serving during World War II, collectively earning an
incredible number of honors and medals, including four Silver Stars, nine
Distingushed Flying Crosses, nine Legion of Merit awards, 36 Air Medals, five
Distingushed Service Medals, one Purple Heart, three Commendation Medals, nine
Presidential Unit Citations, four Government of the Philippines awards, two
Croix-de-Guerre with Palm awards, the US SWPA medal with nine major campaign
battle stars, 121 noncombat awards, and many other medals for outstanding
service; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia contributed more than 324,000 of its men and women to serve during the
Second World War with more than 6,700 killed in action, over 11,000 wounded in
action, over 600 held as prisoners of war, and hundreds missing under unknown
circumstances; and
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia and the United States will be forever indebted to the
inspiring bravery and perseverance of the thousands of heroic veterans from
Georgia who fought in the Pacific, in Europe, and around the globe during World
War II; and
WHEREAS,
as these four amazing pilots have brought honor to World War II veterans across
the nation and have earned the esteem of countless generations of Georgians, it
is abundantly fitting and proper to honor and salute them on this occasion.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend
these four outstanding pilots, Lieutenant General Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo,
Major General Charles C. "Buck" Pattillo, Major General Joel B. "Bill" Paris
III, and Brigadier General John F."Big John" Collins; recognize the immense
service that they have provided to Georgia and the United States; and heartily
extend to them their sincerest best wishes for their future health and
fulfillment.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Lieutenant General
Cuthbert A. "Bill" Pattillo, Major General Charles C. "Buck" Pattillo, Major
General Joel B. "Bill" Paris III, and Brigadier General John F."Big John"
Collins.