February 12, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 29 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 HONORING THE LEGACY OF FRANK LOSONSKY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Abraham) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the legacy of the 
last remaining AVG Flying Tiger, Frank Losonsky, who passed away last 
week at 99 years of age.
  Mr. Losonsky was one of 300 men who comprised the American Volunteer 
Group, which sailed to China in 1941 to defend against the Imperial 
Japanese in World War II.
  Mr. Losonsky was the crew chief of the Hell's Angels Squadron, where 
he was responsible for maintaining three to four, maybe five, aircraft 
at a time.
  The Flying Tigers were a unique unit because most of their pilots and 
support personnel were enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, 
the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps, but they flew under Chinese 
colors.
  This elite group was devised and commanded by Louisianian and LSU 
graduate Lieutenant General Claire Chennault. On his recommendation, 
President Franklin Roosevelt signed an order allowing American regulars 
to be lent to the Chinese Air Force. They first flew combat 12 days 
after Pearl Harbor on December 20, 1941.
  Mr. Losonsky's legacy lives on at the Chennault Aviation and Military 
Museum in Monroe, Louisiana, and we are proud to host it.
  Please join me in honoring the contributions of Frank Losonsky and 
the rest of the AVG Flying Tigers to the liberation of the Pacific from 
Imperial Japan.

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