HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 97-4637, by Representatives Anderson, Sehlin, Hatfield, Conway, Gardner, Poulsen, Doumit, Blalock, Gombosky, Murray, O'Brien, Cole, Wolfe, Keiser, Lantz, Kastama, Wood, Linville, Cooper, Kenney, Sullivan, Quall, Sheldon, Cody, Honeyford, B. Thomas, D. Schmidt, Wensman and Dyer

      WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to honor meritorious service and to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

      WHEREAS, The United States Navy on February 28, 1997, retired Attack Squadron 196, known as the "Main Battery" and based at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and the A-6E Intruder bomber that it flew with great success and pride; and

      WHEREAS, Eighty-six Whidbey Island crewmen have given their lives in service of their country while flying the A-6E Intruder, including thirty killed in combat; and

      WHEREAS, Attack Squadron 196 flew more sorties and suffered greater losses than any other carrier-based squadron in the Vietnam War; and

      WHEREAS, The Whidbey Island Naval Air Station has served as the training base and home to A-6E Intruder crews and their families for more than thirty years; and

      WHEREAS, The A-6E Intruder was a carrier-based bomber designed to evade enemy radar by flying at treetop height in all weather conditions; and

      WHEREAS, The A-6E Intruder was the mainstay of carrier aviation during the Vietnam War, as well as during combat operations in Grenada, Lebanon, Libya, and the Persian Gulf in the 1980's, and in the air war during Operation Desert Storm in 1991;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives hereby commemorate the distinguished service of the A-6E Intruder bomber, and express its gratitude to the men and women of United States Navy Attack Squadron 196 who maintained and flew this plane for the past thirty years; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Secretary of the Navy, Captain Terry Toms, commander of Pacific Fleet Attack Wing, and Captain Larry J. Munns, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey.

     I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

     Resolution 4637 adopted by the House of Representatives

                         March 12, 1997.

                ________________________________

                 Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk