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Friday, 17 October 2008
049/2008

AIR FORCE HISTORY TO STAY IN WAGGA

The RAAF is committed to ensuring historical Air Force items remain on display in Wagga Wagga, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly AM MP announced today.

“I am pleased to announce that I have asked the Chief of Air Force to produce options to ensure the return of heritage items to Wagga Wagga for display in a suitable museum facility,” Dr Kelly said.

“This will recognise the strong contribution made by people in the region to the Air Force going back to World War II, when units such as 31 Squadron were formed at the base.”

Dr Kelly was presented with a petition by the Member for Riverina, Mrs Kay Hull MP on Tuesday, 14 October and undertook a review into re-opening the museum.

“I thank Kay Hull for her support of the community on this issue. After all the ADF and its heritage belong to the community and the level of support in Wagga Wagga for the RAAF Base should be recognised and applauded. It is also important to be able to educate future generations that the peace, freedom and way of life they enjoy is the result of our proud ADF history,” Dr Kelly said.

The Air Force will examine a number of options to best display the Wagga heritage collection and will meet with the Wagga Wagga Council to discuss proposals.

The proposals will be presented to the RAAF Heritage Advisory Council, which is chaired by the Deputy Chief of Air Force. Air Force will present options for decision to Dr Kelly by 30 November 2008.

RAAF remains committed to maintaining and fostering its strong relationship with the Wagga community. The Base has an important role to play in preparing and training Air Force personnel for operations around the world.

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site was opened Oct. 11 at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala. The site is dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen no longer with us. Moton Field in the 1940s was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Historic homecoming for Tuskegee Airmen as site opens

by Christine Harrison
Air University Public Affairs

10/16/2008 - MOTON FIELD, Ala. -- Hundreds of aviators, mechanics and support personnel who once worked at the Tuskegee Army Air Field and Moton Field, Ala., during the 1930s and '40s gathered here once again Oct. 10 when the National Park Service memorialized the efforts of the first black pilots, the famed Tuskegee Airmen, in the Army Air Corps.

The National Tuskegee Historic Site is now officially open for old and young alike to learn about the achievements of the more than 10,000 men and women of the "Tuskegee Experience," a testing ground for African-Americans to prove themselves as not just aircraft pilots and maintainers, but as human beings equal to their white brothers-in-arms.

Moton Field was an "island of hope, an island of opportunity and a place of achievements," said Dr. Roscoe Brown, one of the Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, or DOTAs, who participated in a panel discussion prior to the opening ceremony.

"We beat segregation, and now we have to take advantage of the opportunities," said retired Lt. Col. James Warren, a navigator who trained at Moton Field and authored "The Tuskegee Airmen Mutiny at Freeman Field," a book chronicling the arrests and subsequent punishments of 104 black Army Air Corps officers who attempted to enter a whites-only officers club in 1945. "It wasn't until 1995 that those courts-martial were removed from those officer's records. But they are gone now."

It was those actions, as well as the achievements of black pilots during World War II, that led President Harry Truman to desegregate the Armed Forces three years later, Mr. Warren said.

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site museum is housed in the only remaining original hangar at Moton Field. Interpretive and static displays also record the stories of the Civilian Pilot Training program at Tuskegee Institute, a federally funded program that was the precursor to military pilot training at Moton Field.

Thousands attended the opening ceremony, and weekend-long celebration which included the unveiling of the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway, located off U.S. I-85, as well as a flyover of four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 187th Fighter Group out of Dannelly Field, Ala.

"Your courage has brought us closer to the ideals of our founding fathers," said Lynn Scarlett, the deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior. "You fought two wars - one against military forces overseas, and one against racism at home."

"You set an example for the world," said retired Lt. Gen. Russell Davis, one of the first student pilots of the Moton Field. "You gave us all a little of that 'right stuff,' and you set a hallmark across the entire spectrum of society."

Alabama Governor Bob Riles said he was honored to be in the presence of American heroes.

"You are proof that no race has a monopoly on excellence, that no one group has a singular claim on heroism," he said.

Once overseas, the Tuskegee Airmen became part of the 332nd Fighter Group, composed of the 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd African-American fighter squadrons. Known as the Red Tails because of the distinctive red paint on their plane, they earned 112 aerial victories in World War II, and the group received two Presidential Unit Citations. Members of the group were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Purple Heart, and in 2006, they were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service and sacrifice.

For more information on the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, visit www.nps.gov/tuin.

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - Retired Col. Herbert E. Carter re-enlists Airmen Oct. 11 at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala. Colonel Carter is one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen and was on hand for the opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Moton Field in the 1940s was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

As part of the opening ceremony of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 10 at Moton Field, Ala., National Park Service officials unveil a sign that designates part of Interstate 85, which passes near the city of Tuskegee, as the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama looks on from behind.

Air Force photo by Scott Knuteson

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - Retired Col. Herbert E. Carter shakes hands with an Airman who he just gave the oath of enlistment to Oct. 11 at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala. Colonel Carter is one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen and was on hand for the opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Moton Field in the 1940s was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

Retired Lt. Col. William Holloman, one of the Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, participates in a panel discussion prior to the opening ceremony of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 10 at Moton Field, Ala.

Air Force photo by Scott Knuteson

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - Lionel Richie performed for Tuskegee Airmen, their families, friends and fellow servicemembers to celebrate the grand opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 11 at the new Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery, Ala. Moton Field in nearby Tuskegee, Ala., was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

One of the Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, or DOTAs, wears the distinctive red hat and jacket at the opening ceremony of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 10 at Moton Field, Ala. One estimate notes the Airmen, now in their late 70s and early 80s, are dying at a rate of five per week.

Air Force photo by Scott Knuteson

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - A T-6A Texan II flies over Moton Field during the grand opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 11 in Tuskegee, Ala. Moton Field in the 1940s was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

After the opening ceremony of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 10 at Moton Field, Ala., visitors explore the interpretive and static displays housed the in the only remaining original hangar of the "Tuskegee Experience."

Air Force photo by Scott Knuteson

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen

10/16/2008 - Retired Col. Herbert E. Carter shakes hands with an Airman who he just gave the oath of re-enlistment to Oct. 11 at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala. Colonel Carter is one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen and was on hand for the opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Moton Field in the 1940s was the only primary flight training facility for the first African American pilot candidates in the Army Air Corps, these pilots are known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen
10/16/2008 - The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site was opened Oct. 11 at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala. The site is dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen no longer with us. A memorial for two of the Airmen who passed away recently was recognized and their ashes were sprinkled on the airfield.

U.S. Air Force photo /by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones

World Warbird News Headlines ~ United States

Dayton, Ohio -- Join best-selling author Dr. Donald L. Miller as he discusses his award-winning book, Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany, on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Photo: USAF Museum

Best-selling author to speak at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force


by Rob Bardua
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

10/14/2008 - DAYTON, Ohio -- Join best-selling author Dr. Donald L. Miller as he discusses his award-winning book, Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany, on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The book, which appeared on the Air Force Chief of Staff's 2007 reading list, describes the deep personal story of the American Eighth Air Force, which fought the longest American military campaign of World War II and lost more men in the war than the U.S. Marine Corps.

Dr. Miller focuses on both sets of victims in the air war: the German people who were bombed and the American crews who did the bombing. He also explains the military impact and mortality of strategic bombing, as well as the mental strain of the air crews, which served as the theme of the popular Hollywood film, Twelve O'Clock High!

This free lecture will be held in the museum's Carney Auditorium and is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Special book-signings will take place in the museum's gift shop prior to the lecture at 1 p.m., and then again following the lecture in the Carney Auditorium.

Dr. Miller, who is also the author of eight other books, received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Maryland, and has taught at Cornell University, the University of Maryland, the University of Pennsylvania and is currently the John Henry MacCracken Professor of History at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.

His articles and reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and his books have been nominated for every major American literary prize, including the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle award.

He is a contributing editor of American Heritage magazine, host and chief historian of the PBS series, A Biography of America, and has participated in the writing and production of more than two dozen television documentaries, including American 1900, which received a prestigious Peabody Award.

Dr. Miller also serves as chief historical consultant and script editor on two film projects including a Tom Hanks production on WWII for the National D-Day Museum, and a 10-part series on WWII based on the diaries of Allied and Axis combatants for The History Channel.

In addition, he is working on two more books titled Supreme City: New York in the 1920s, and The Siege: The Fight for Vicksburg, the Decisive Battle of the American Civil War and also serves as chief historical adviser to the CEO of the National World War II Museum.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free.

NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, please contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-1743.

Learn about Explosive Ordnance Disposal at museum

by Sarah Swan
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

10/15/2008 - DAYTON, Ohio -- When the presence of unexploded ordnance makes an area too dangerous for normal operations, the U.S. Air Force relies upon its highly-trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians to make the area safe.

Historian Dr. Jeff Underwood will discuss this topic during his lecture "Initial Success or Total Failure: USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal" at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The Air Force EOD began in World War II and continues through current actions in Southwest Asia. During his presentation, Underwood will discuss the EOD motto and badge as well as how new technology has changed EOD.

The presentation, which is part of the museum's Volunteer Information Program, is free and open to the public. For more information, call (937) 255-3495.

Underwood received his doctorate in American history from Louisiana State University in 1988. Since then, he has worked as a historian for the U.S. Air Force with the Military Airlift Command, USAF Air Defense Weapons Center, First Air Force and Air Combat Command, and he currently is the National Museum of the United States Air Force historian. In addition to writing official histories, Underwood has written a book, The Wings of Democracy: The Influence of Air Power on the Roosevelt Administration, 1933-1941, along with numerous articles and book reviews for professional journals and magazines. He also has done television and radio interviews for the History Channel, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, CBS and others.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Admission and parking are free.


NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at (937) 255-3495.

Aces of the Red Star

Historic Aircraft such as this Russian MiG 15 Jet will be in action over the Chino Airport during the Aces of the Red Star event.

Photo: Planes of Fame Air Museum

Aces of the Red Star

· November 1, 2008 - Chino, California

· Chino, CA - Aces of the Red Star will be the subject of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport on Saturday, November 1, 2008. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar describing the exploits of Russian fighter pilots from the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, World War II and the Korean War, and conclude with a flight demonstration by a Russian fighter plane from the Planes of Fame collection.

Under the banner of communism, Russian fighter pilots were heavily involved in the Spanish Civil War which actually served as a training exercise for the much greater conflict against Nazi Germany in World War II. Subsequently, Russian fighter pilots, generally flying under foreign colors, were very active against their former American and British allies during the Korean War and, until the collapse of the Soviet Union, provided covert support to client states in other conflicts as well.

In numerical terms, Russian operations against the Germans on World War II’s Eastern Front were particularly staggering. Producing aircraft in huge numbers, the Russians reportedly flew 3,223,000 individual combat missions during the war, losing 46,100 aircraft in the process before overwhelming the Germans.

Established in 1957 as the first permanent air museum in the American West, Planes of Fame Air Museum is an independent, non-profit, educational institution staffed primarily by a core of dedicated volunteers. The museum supports its operations with admission fees, donations, facilities rentals and proceeds from the use of its aircraft in various productions.

A pioneer in the concept of restoring historic display aircraft to flying condition, the museum also has a special membership program available to the public. One of the advantages of membership is the opportunity to actually experience the thrill of orientation flights in genuine warbirds. At each monthly special event, members in attendance, including last-minute sign-ups, can have their names entered into a free drawing for a warbird orientation flight.

Planes of Fame Air Museum is open to the public every day, except Christmas and Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. General admission is $11, youngsters 5-11 are admitted for $4, and admission is free for accompanied children under 5.

For more information about The Planes of Fame Air Museum, and its events, please call (909)597-3722; or visit the Planes of Fame website at www.planesoffame.org.

Battle for Guadalcanal

Historic Aircraft such as this Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero will be in action over the Chino Airport during the Guadalcanal event.

Photo: Planes of Fame Air Museum

Battle for Guadalcanal

· December 6, 2008 - Chino, California

· Chino, CA - Guadalcanal, the target of America’s first offensive of World War II in the Pacific, will be the subject of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport on Saturday, December 6, 2008. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar describing the epic battle that established the pattern for future Allied operations in the Pacific, and conclude with a flight demonstration by the Planes of Fame Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero fighter plane.

The initial phase in a step-by-step advance against the Japanese Empire through the South Pacific, the invasion of Guadalcanal was originally named “Operation Watchtower,” but it soon became better known as “Operation Shoestring” due to the tenuous supply situation characteristic of the early days of the campaign. Intending to seize a nearly completed airfield at Laguna Point and an anchorage at Tulagi, the 1st Marine Division invaded Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. An initially sparse defense by the unprepared Japanese soon gave way to a fierce and deadly campaign that did not end until the remains of the defeated Japanese force finally withdrew on February 8, 1943. The campaign was so fierce that the waters in the area became known as “Iron Bottom Sound” because of all the sunken ships from both sides.

The very first permanent museum of its type in the American West, Planes of Fame Air Museum is an independent, non-profit, educational institution staffed primarily by a core of dedicated volunteers. Planes of Fame was also a pioneer in the concept of restoring historic display aircraft to flying condition. The museum supports its operations with admission fees, donations, facilities rentals and proceeds from the use of its aircraft in various productions.

Planes of Fame also has a special membership program available to the public, with one of the advantages of membership being the opportunity to experience the thrill of orientation flights in genuine warbirds. At each monthly special event, members in attendance, including last-minute sign-ups, can have their names entered into a free drawing for a warbird orientation flight.

Planes of Fame Air Museum is open to the public every day, except Christmas and Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. General admission is $11, youngsters 5-11 are admitted for $4, and admission is free for accompanied children under 5.

For more information about The Planes of Fame Air Museum, and its events, please call (909)597-3722; or visit the Planes of Fame website at www.planesoffame.org.

Warbirds Australia

Recovery of the RAAF Lockheed Hudson Patrol Bomber in Papua, New Guinea

Squadron Leader Alain Middleton (left) and Squadron Leader John Cotterell inspect the wreckage of RAAF Hudson A16-126 on Operation Kovi Moses.

Photo: Australia DoD

Recovery of the RAAF Lockheed Hudson Patrol Bomber in Papua, New Guinea

A pen that was found at the crash site of RAAF Hudson A16-126. It is engraved with Flying Officer Gibson’s name.

Photo: Australia DoD

Recovery of the RAAF Lockheed Hudson Patrol Bomber in Papua, New Guinea

Inscription: "Remote Control Unit"

"Bendix