SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Office of the Supreme Allied Commander European Theater of Operations

To the Pilots of All American Airlines

Gentlemen,

I wish to extend to you, on behalf of the Allied High Command, my sincere appreciation and deep respect for your conduct and performance in the successful execution of Operation Bolero.

The ferrying of aircraft, supplies, and men across the North Atlantic under conditions of extreme weather, limited navigation aids, and constant operational pressure demanded the highest standards of skill, discipline, and courage. You met those demands with a steadiness and professionalism that reflect the finest traditions of American aviation.

Your mission was not one of spectacle or immediate recognition. It was a mission of endurance and faith. Each flight you carried forward strengthened the foundation upon which our future operations depend. Every C-47 delivered to the United Kingdom was a step closer to victory, a tangible contribution to the assembling of the air power and airborne forces that will soon be called upon in decisive action.

The history of this war will rightly record the great battles and the famous landings. It must also record the quiet heroism of those who made such moments possible. Operation Bolero stands as one of the greatest logistical achievements of this conflict, and your part in it was indispensable.

You crossed hostile seas not for glory, but for duty. You flew without applause, yet with unwavering resolve. You carried the war on your wings long before the war was visible to the world.

For your steadfast devotion to mission, your mastery of the air, and your unyielding service to the cause of freedom, you have earned the gratitude of every Allied soldier who will go forward supported by the aircraft you delivered.

You have written your chapter in history not with ink, but with altitude, courage, and discipline.

Well done.

Dwight D. Eisenhower General of the Army Supreme Allied Commander Allied Expeditionary Force