Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced a bill for Congress to formally designate the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia as the official Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in the United States.

Originating in Savannah, GA, the Mighty Eighth Air Force celebrated its 80^th anniversary in January of this year.

“The Mighty Eighth Air Force was critical to the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and is known as the ‘Greatest Air Armada of all time,’” said Carter. “But that tremendous honor first required tremendous sacrifice.”

Of the 350,000 members during World War II, the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces, 26,000 men laid down their lives and another 28,000 became prisoners of war. Since that time, members of the Mighty Eighth continued to risk their lives in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and now as part of our nuclear deterrence.

“The Mighty Eighth Air Force museum was built during my tenure as Mayor of Pooler. Since its inception, it has stood as a reminder that freedom is not free,” said Carter. “This cultural landmark represents some of the bravest men and women to ever serve our nation and could not be more deserving of a national distinction.”

Original cosponsors for this bipartisan bill include: Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).

Read the full text of the bill here.

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