House Concurrent Resolution 84

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE OF CAPTAIN CHARLES T. HULL.

WHEREAS, after the "Battle of Britain," British Prime Minister Winston Churchill opined "never in the course of human history was so much owed by so many to so few"; and

WHEREAS, rarely in the course of human history has a man given so much and expected so little in return as Captain Charles T. Hull; and

WHEREAS, born in 1921, Captain Hull was a student at Mississippi State University on December 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, and immediately subsequent thereafter he answered his country's call to defend her while engaged in the World War II, leaving Mississippi to ensure that men and women around the world would live lives free from oppressive tyranny; and

WHEREAS, stationed in Polebrook, England, Captain Hull piloted B-17 bombers for the 351st Bomber Group of the Eighth Air Force, flying 25 missions from June to December of 1943, and enduring the unimaginable assignment of flying missions over Germany without the protection of fighter escorts for him and his crew; and

WHEREAS, on August 17, 1943, Captain Hull and his crew were briefed for what would later be considered a turning point in the war, their target, a ball-bearing factory in Schweinfurt, Germany, integral in fueling the German war machine, an attack that would require pilots like Captain Hull to fly farther into Germany than ever before; and

WHEREAS, the mission began with 185 bombers, heavy fog and no escort fighters to protect the large B-17s, as the crew would encounter enemy opposition before reaching their targets, when the Germans surrounded Captain Hull and the bombers on all sides, "like a swarm of bees," flying at almost twice the speed of the American planes, in an unrelenting, unmitigated fury; and

WHEREAS, Captain Hull piloted his bomber through the chaos with skill unrivaled in the European Theater, avoiding major damage to his plane and crew, and experiencing the Eighth Air Force's loss of roughly a third of its forces; however, the United States Army estimates that for every fighter plane the bombers shot down, they saved between 200 and 300 troops on the ground during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy; and

WHEREAS, over the course of Captain Hull's tour in Europe he and his crew faced inconceivable risks, often times greatly outnumbered, but with every hardship they returned their full measure of bravery and courage, guided by Captain Hull's heroic skill as a pilot which surpasses that of legends, and his contribution to the United States Military and the Allied Forces is incomparable, his valor supreme; and

WHEREAS, for his outstanding service in Europe he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Service Medal and upon returning from his tour in Europe, Captain Hull further served his country with honor as a flight instructor for the new B-29s; and

WHEREAS, since completing his service, Captain Hull has continued his love of travel and flying, he has been to all 50 states, 74 countries and crossed the Arctic Circle four times, and in 1978 he completed a solo "round-the-world" flight that spanned 92 days and covered about 39,000 miles, during which he provided supplies to missionaries around the world before returning home to Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the outstanding and heroic service of individuals like Captain Hull, who, through his service, brought tremendous honor to the United States of America and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the many outstanding contributions and accomplishments of Captain Charles T. Hull and express our sincere gratitude for his exemplary service and extend best wishes for all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Captain Charles T. Hull and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.