Florida Congressman Clay Shaw (R-Fort Lauderdale) introduced H.Res. 500, in the U.S. House of Representatives late last week, in order to honor the 14 men who were lost in the disappearance of Flight 19, and the 13 men of their search and rescue team who also never returned.

The resolution passed the House, November 17th, 420 to 2.

“On one tragic day, 27 families experienced excruciating losses of their loved ones, and this nation lost 27 of its bravest and most dedicated Americans. While the events of that day may go unexplained, the memories of those men will not go unrecognized,” Shaw said.

“I proudly sponsor H.Res. 500, which recognizes the 60th anniversary of the disappearance of the 5 naval Avenger torpedo bombers of Flight 19 and the naval Mariner rescue aircraft sent to search for Flight 19. These 27 men have the thanks of a grateful nation.”

Flight 19, comprised of five Avenger torpedo-bombers with a crew of 14, flew out of Fort Lauderdale’s Naval Air Station for a routine exercise and never returned. After having lost contact with Flight 19, the Navy deployed a rescue mission of 13 men, all of which never returned.

Theories abound about what happened that day with disappearance of 27 men and their planes, sparking one of the largest air and sea searches in history. Hundreds of ships and aircraft scoured over 200,000 square mile of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, but the wreckage was never found.

Shaw read the names of those who were lost on Capitol Hill Thursday, honoring Flight 19, the Mariner and their families.

FMI: http://shaw.house.gov, www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq15-1.htm