WHAT: Open to the public, Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino, CA) presents its monthly Living History Event. The topic for the January 4 event is ‘Aviation in the Movies’, featuring the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Our featured speaker will be Mark Carlson, author of Flying On Film: A Century of Aviaiton in the Movies, 1912-2012, who will also be selling and signing his books. Joining him will be Robert J. Friend, Lt. Col. USAF Ret., former Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilot in WWII. These two speakers presentations will be followed by a question & answer period and flight demonstration when possible. The P-40 will be on display and perform a flight demonstration. At 12:00 noon, the Membership-sponsored raffle flight will occur in the featured aircraft if possible. Become a member to enter the raffle. All members are eligible to enter the raffle, but you must be present to win.
WHO: Mark Carlson, Author of Flying On Film: A Century of Aviation in the Movies, 1912-2012, will be our featured speaker and will also be selling and signing his books. Mark Carlson is a freelance writer, aviation historian, student of filmmaking, and classic film connoisseur. As Past President of Poway-Black Mountain Toastmasters club, he established the FUNspeakable historical entertainment series. He is a former graphic designer who lost his sight through a hereditary disorder in 1998. He worked as a specialist in low-vision assistive technology for seven years. On weekends, he is a docent tour guide at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He has written articles for several national aviation magazines and organizations. He is the author of six mainstream historical novels, and his work has been published in Bark Magazine, Dog Fancy, Flight Journal, The Hook, Warbirds, and Aviation History. Mark will provide a 40-minute presentation with slideshow.
Robert J. Friend, Lt. Col. USAF Ret. 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 P-40, P47 and P51 single engine planes, Lieutenant Friend flew as the wing man for the Commander of the Group, Col. B.O. Davis.
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.
Also, we may have Steve Hinton, Steven Hinton and Johnny Maloney on the panel also. Kevin Thompson (POF Moderator and Aviation Historian) and Edward Maloney (Museum Founder & Curator, and Aviation Historian) moderate and join in the presentation.
WHEN: Saturday, January 4, 2014, 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’
Source / Author: Planes of Fame Air Museum
Photo: Planes of Fame Air Museum