STAND DOWN OF A-6E INTRUDER (Senate - February 28, 1997)
(Mr. GORTON) Mr. President, I am proud today to honor the retirement of the Navy's A-6E Intruder. Attack Squadron 196 at Whidbey Naval Air Station in my home State and Attack Squadron 75 in Virginia Beach will stand down the final two Intruder squadrons in simultaneous ceremonies today. As the backbone of carrier attack aviation for the past 36 years, the A-6E Intruder stood ready to face the enemy in any weather, day or night. The A-6 put teeth in the term "carrier forward presence". It saw combat in Vietnam, Lebanon, Libya, in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and over the shores of Kuwait and Iraq. It delivered iron bombs, laser guided bombs, and every air-to-ground missile available in the Navy inventory for the past three decades. The A-6E Intruder was the hardest working plane on the flight deck. The pilots and bombardier/navigators who flew the Intruder had great affection and respect for the aircraft and its ability to withstand heavy enemy fire. They too should be honored for their courage and dedication to this great nation. They will truly miss the A-6. We also honor the thousands of Intruder maintainers, both past and present, who kept the A-6E flying day and night, at sea and ashore. The excellent record of the Intruder is a testament to the hard work of these men and women. Finally, let us remember the Intruder crews who never returned. In service to our Nation, they paid the ultimate price flying this machine that they loved. We must never forget them. From this day on, the United States Navy must continue to carry on the spirit of Intruder attack. On a personal basis, my son-in-law, Joe Nortz, was an A-6 bombardier/navigator during most of his 20-year Navy career. He is attending the stand down ceremony at NAS Whidbey as a great admirer of a Great aircraft.