COMMENTARY: Labor Day at Mildenhall

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Michael Parks
  • 351st Air Refueling Squadron commander
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As we have collectively just celebrated a three-day weekend honoring Labor Day, we must not forget the dedication, the sacrifices and the innovative imagination of those who paved the way for today's successes. Alongside back-to-school celebrations, end-of-summer barbecues and the annual embracing of another football season, every Airman needs to pause for just a moment, reflect on the past, and remind him or herself of how their personal dedication, sacrifice and innovation plays a critical role in support of today's mission.

Since many of us are unaware of Labor Day's humble beginnings, the holiday was born from the late 19th Century United States labor movement and it annually celebrates worker contributions to the "strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country." It pays tribute to the workers who materially and ideally brought our nation to the forefront of modernization and to the pinnacle of democracy.

Looking back at a snapshot in history, the hardworking men and women of World War II provide a shining example of how America's labor force changed the world. Utilizing the nation's vast resources as a tool, these dedicated citizens toiled day and night to provide Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines the equipment and resources to wage war. Essentially, they personally fought an industrial war with our enemies from US soil and won.

As just one example of this can-do mentality, men and women working for the Boeing and Douglas Aircraft Companies produced around 60 B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft per month prior to the declaration of war. As the fog and friction of warfare became a reality, aircraft losses began to quickly exceed production capacity. Bombardment groups, such as the "Bloody Hundredth" 100th Bombardment Group, experienced up to double digit aircraft losses per mission. Unimaginable from today's reference point, single aviation groups, such as the 100th BG, lost or salvaged 229 aircraft over a short 22-month period.

How did these blue collar men and "Rosie the Riveters" respond to the reality of war? They utilized their asymmetric material advantage, leveraged burgeoning industrial capabilities, and joined forces across the nation in order to deny the enemy the same freedoms. They rolled up their sleeves. They picked up their tools. They went to work and stayed the course for the betterment of our country. From the mere 60 B-17 aircraft produced per month in 1942, these dedicated laborers increased production six fold yielding 362 aircraft per month (nearly 12 aircraft per day) by the end of the war effort. All told, the workers associated with the Boeing and Douglas Aircraft Companies produced an astounding total of 12,731 B-17s to pummel America's enemies from the air.

Herein lies the lesson for all Airmen in today's Air Force. The same qualities embodied by the labor force during World War II continue to make us unmatched as a military service. Every day we utilize our asymmetric advantage − our people − to accomplish our mission in air, space and cyberspace. By developing, training and empowering our Airmen to handle any situation in any environment, the Air Force is able to establish air superiority. By leveraging our capabilities − our core missions − we are able to provide freedom of movement and freedom of action precisely and lethally with unrivaled persistence. Lastly by integrating forces within our wings, joint services and foreign partners, the Air Force harnesses a multi-domain and coordinated array of airpower prowess to deliver superior effects across the coalition environment.

On this day after Labor Day, I ask you to remind your Airmen and yourself about how we have labored to collectively enhance the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our United States Air Force. Please reflect with them upon our greatest power − our Airmen; pay tribute to our world-class capabilities − our core missions; and never forget that our strength comes from integration − from within Team Mildenhall and beyond.

While our country may not be able to produce 12 modern bomber aircraft per day, our Air Force can and will remain the world's preeminent force if we continue to remind our Airmen of those "labors" that make us great.