for September
This months event was pushed back a week because of the
"Warbirds Over Paso 2013" airshow.
They have one the first Saturday of every month.
Planes of Fame Events Calendar:
PLANES OF FAME - Events Calendar
2013 Schedule of Events:
PLANES OF FAME - 2013 Schedule of Events
October 12, 2013 Flying History Event - United We Win - Minorities in WWII
WHAT: Open to the public, Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino, CA) presents its monthly Living History Event. The topic for the October 12 event is
'United We Win - Minorities in WWII', featuring the North American P-51 Mustang. The featured speakers for this event are
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert J. Friend and
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Henry 'Hank' Cervantes. Their presentations will be followed by a question answer period and flight demonstration when possible. The P-51 will be on display and will perform a flight demonstration. At 12:00 noon, the Membership Sponsored raffle flight will occur.
WHO: Robert J. Friend, Lt. Col. USAF Ret. was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1920. In 1939, he became a student at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a private pilot certificate in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. In 1942, Mr. Friend joined the Air Force and was sent to Tuskegee Institute for military pilot training.
After receiving his wings as an Air Force Pilot, Mr. Friend was promoted to a Lieutenant and at that time was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group as a pilot under Col. B.O. Davis, Jr. He was then sent to Schlfridge Air Force Base in Michigan for flight tactical aircraft transition before his combat tour. In 1943, Lieutenant Friend reported to the European Theatre of War as a member of Tuskegee Airmen's Distinguished 322nd Group, which was a Fighter Pilot Organization. As a skillful pilot of the P47 and P51 single engine planes, Lieutenant Friend flew as the wing man for the Commander of the group, Col. B.O. Davis. Lt. Col. Friend also served as Combat Operations Officer at the Squadron and Group levels. In this capacity he was responsible for planning and organizing the implementation of strategic and tactical air missions for the organization
Following the war, Lt. Col. Friend continued a technical career with the Air Force. He worked on major programs including service as Assistant Deputy of Launch Vehicles including Titan, Atlas, Delta, and Space Shuttle. As Foreign Technology Program Director, he monitored and reported upon foreign research and development programs to identify the possible need for systems to offset foreign capabilities posing potential threat to the national security of the U.S. He was also the Director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Program, which investigated cases of the Unidentified Flying Objects brought to the attention of the Air Force.
After retiring from the Air Force, Lt. Col. Friend was selected as the Assistant to the President for Fairchild Stratos Companies in Manhattan Beach, California, overseeing the design and production of space products for the space shuttle. In his third career, he is currently the Vice President for the Stanford Mu Corporation in Los Angeles, California, which is a company that produces space components for the International Space Station and other Satellite Systems. Lt. Col. Friend has been a Research and Development Director for over fifty years responsible for formulating, monitoring, evaluating, and controlling programs and projects for scientific and technological application to meet USAF Special Weapons Fire Control Systems and Major Missile Systems strategic and tactical requirements.
Lt. Col. Friend is a master bridge player who is well known and respected nationally, and often competes in national tournaments in his spare time. Lt. Col. Friend resides in Irvine California. He has 8 children and numerous grand, great-grand, great-great grandchildren.
Henry 'Hank' Cervantes was born to poor migrants during the Depression in Fresno, CA. He is one of the very few Latinos to succeed in a profession that few achieve, but in so doing he fulfilled a boyhood dream to be a pilot. During WWII, he flew B-17s over Germany with the 100th Bomber Group from 1943-45.
After the war, Lt. Col. Cervantes pursued a military career, not only attaining the rank of Lt. Col. through his intelligence and drive, but becoming project officer of the Strategic Air Command's top-secret B-58 Hustler program. The B-58 was world's first supersonic jet bomber. Lt. Col. Cervantes served 22 years in the United States Army as test pilot and jet instructor. Upon retirement from the Air Force in the mid 60s, Hank did work for the Defense Department and wrote technical manuals for Northrop. His civilian life has had him involved in Los Angeles city government, serving as staff advisor to former Mayor Tom Bradley. He also is involved with the California Special Olympics and serves as an official with USA Track Field. Hank is author of book documenting his stirring story entitled, Piloto: Migrant Worker to Jet Pilot.
Kevin Thompson (
POF Moderator and Aviation Historian) and Edward Maloney (
Museum Founder Curator, and Aviation Historian) moderate and join in the presentation.
WHEN: Saturday, October 12, 2013, 10am–12 noon: Speaker program flight demonstration. Museum doors open at 9:00am.
WHERE: Planes of Fame Air Museum, 7000 Merrill Avenue #17, Chino, CA 91710
WHY: It is the Mission of Planes of Fame Air Museum to
preserve aviation history,
inspire interest in aviation,
educate the public, and
honor aviation pioneers and veterans. The Museum sponsors regular events in the form of inspirational experiences, educational presentations, flight demonstrations, and airshows in fulfillment of this mission.
Planes of Fame Air Museum,
'Where Warbirds Fly and Aviation History Lives'
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Hope to see you there on Saturday. You get to see an amazing aircraft fly and the speakers always have something new for me to learn. It's a great way to spend a Saturday.
Wheels