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Celebrating a century of aviation achievement: a salute to the pioneers - Dr James G. Roche, secretary of the U.S. Air Force - Transcript

Air Force Speeches, Oct 29, 2003

Dr James G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force Remarks to the Centennial of Flight Symposium, Bush School of Government and Public Service, College Station, Texas, Oct 29, 2003

Thank you Dr. Vedlitz for your warm remarks and that gracious introduction. I want to salute you and your great team at the Bush School--and our team from the Air Force History and Museums program--for putting together this intriguing and memorable event. As an avid student of history, as an airman, and as an American, I couldn't be more honored with the privilege of opening this symposium.

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We have several special guests with us this week, one of the founders of space operations, General Bernard Schriever, is with us. And, later this week, the former President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, will join us. It is fitting that we should be talking about aviation pioneers this week, because these two great Americans embody the finest examples of the spirit and vision of those responsible for a century of aviation achievement. I, for one, am always humbled to be in their company.

During this program, we will celebrate and recollect the leadership, innovation, and accomplishments of the airmen who have made the past 100 years a century that could fairly be described as the first Century of humankind's ascent into the third dimension. We will explore the historical conditions, philosophies, and the training of airmen that resulted in airpower's rise to prominence during conflict throughout the century. And, we will hear perspectives on the founders and influential pioneers who forged an independent air arm and, through the power of their impassioned leadership, built a legacy of airmen who have fought bravely in our nation's wars since earliest days of powered flight. It is an exciting agenda and one that should prove educational as well as inspirational. I salute you for bringing together such a distinguished group of speakers--present company excepted--leaders, and scholars on the past, present, and future of air and space power.

Just a couple of miles up Washington Boulevard from my office at the Pentagon, and adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, is Fort Myer, home of the Old Guard and site of one of the formative events that led to the development of a military air arm. It was there on Sept. 17, 1908 that the Wright Brothers first introduced us to a new invention that would change the conduct of warfare in the 20th century. On that day, they demonstrated their new military flyer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. It was clear to all present that powered flight offered a new medium from which to project power and conduct military operations. From these humble beginnings, we can trace the wonder of the F/A-22 Raptor, a technical marvel that is transforming the way we think about aerial and ground combat, and the application of technology to warfighting.

When President Taft invited the Wrights to come to the White House in 1909 to accept gold medals from the U.S. Congress, the Smithsonian, and the Aero Club of America, he said of the Wright brothers, "You made this discovery by a course that we in America feel is distinctly American, by keeping your nose right at the job until you had accomplished what you had determined to do."

The achievements of the men and women aviators of this century--in the military, in civilian aviation, in industry, and in the minds of great thinkers--were born of a similarly determined pursuit. And from this relentless quest for innovation and exploration, we have created a remarkable capability for our armed forces and our nation.

From those unassuming beginnings at Kitty Hawk and Fort Myer, airmen have performed brilliantly on the front lines of our nation's battles: Mitchell in his victory at the San Mihiel salient in World War I; Doolittle in his dramatic, fearless and important raid against Japan in 1942; thousands of airmen in 8th and 15th Air Forces who gave their lives to liberate Europe; the partnership of Arnold and Quesada with Patton and Bradley, as well as McArthur and Kenney.

In the last half of this century, America's airmen have continued to provide security for our citizens, assured our allies, and deterred our enemies. From the Berlin airlift to the liberation of Afghanistan and Iraq, air and space power has contributed to the security of our citizens and has spread the promise of peace and freedom around the globe.

In our most recent conflict, our joint forces moved more swiftly and decisively than virtually at any other time in our history, and our air-ground coordination and close air support were comparable to the historic cooperation demonstrated in the breakout of Normandy in 1944. In the future, historians will be saying the names Moseley and McKiernan in the same breath as those leaders who preceded them in conflict in northern France. Their accomplishments demonstrated our success in returning to the close relationships and integrated capabilities of that era.

Celebrating a century of aviation achievement: a salute to the pioneers - Dr James G. Roche, secretary of the U.S. Air Force - Transcript

Air Force Speeches, Oct 29, 2003

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