Golden Gate Wing - Speaker Presentations

Guest Speakers:	Presentation Date:	Video Available:
Upcoming Guest Speaker: To be announced.	To be announced.
Previous Guest Speakers:
Dan Dugan, NASA test pilot at Moffett Field Research pilot at NASA Ames Research Center 1970-1990. Tested XV-5B Lift Fan, YOV-10A Rotating Cylinder Flap Research Aircraft. Project Pilot for XV-15 Tiltrotor for 14 years. This X-type aircraft proved tiltrotor concept and led to development of V-22 Osprey, Bell / Agusta 609 tiltrotors. Project Pilot on UH-1H V / STOLAND aircraft; had first digital flight control system in a helo. Other developmental flying included XV-15 aeroelastic, dynamic stability tests -- new techniques demonstrated for dynamics testing. Participated in development of sidestick controller in XV-15 (only one to date in a tiltrotor). Flew it as Project Pilot - 1985 Two NASA Achievement Awards for XV-15 development. Flew XV-15 at Paris Airshow, 1981. Assigned to V-22 Multiservice Test Team (later ITT) at Pax River,1990-1995. Deputy Project Manager, NASA, to participate in development of the Osprey. Army Aviation Test Activity at Edwards AFB,1965-1968. Performance, HQ testing of YUH-1C, ACH-47 (Guns-A-Go-Go), YCH-47B APE and various weapons systems. Service in Vietnam 1968-1969 (BSM(2) AM(2), ACM. Deputy Director, National Rotorcraft Technology Center. Holds ATP ratings -- Airplanes, Rotorcraft. Logged over 8000 hours, 2052 hours jet time. Authored 40 technical papers, reports, articles. The most recent was presented at SETP Symposium Sept, 2006, American Helicopter Society’s Specialist’s Meeting, Oct, 2008 and AHS Forum, May, 2009. Four Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium papers: 1980, 1985, 1997, 2006. Paper published in “Cockpit,” 2000. Graduate of United States Military Academy (BS), Virginia Tech (MS), Graduate Naval Test Pilot School.	26 January 2012	N/A
Professor Emeritus Dr. Frederic Tubach UC Berkeley Dr. Frederic Tubach, former Professor Emeritus in the German Department at University of California at Berkeley (UCB), was born in the USA in 1930. His musician father had heard good reports about the formation of the Third Reich and returned to Germany. His mother and Frederic soon followed. The family settled in Kleinheubach, a small village in southern Germany. A year later, Frederic's mother died and he grew up in Germany during the Third Reich (1933-1945). His father served as an officer in the German Heer (Army). After the end of the war, Frederic came back to the USA and studied; he received his PhD in 1956. Recently retired from UCB, he has written two books about his time and memories as a youth in Germany. He will discuss his most recent book, "German Voices", based on interviews with more than 400 Germans who also grew up in Germany during the Third Reich. His wife, Sally, the co-author of the book, will be with him. This should be a very interesting program as told from one "who was there!" Frederic's books will be available for sale.	17 November 2011	N/A
1st Polish Armored Division, Captain Marion Grohoski Captain Marion Grohoski, 1st Polish Armored Division. His mother was Latvian and father was Polish. His parents met in San Francisco and then went to Harbin, China where Marion was born. He attended a Polish high school in Harbin and college in Yokohama, Japan. While there, one of Doolittle's B-25s flew over the campus while conducting the raid. Marion was carried on the Polish Ambassador's list as a diplomat so he was able to leave the country on the Swedish ship Gripsholm. After a lengthy trip, he arrived in England, went on to Scotland, and joined the 1st Polish Armored Division which landed in Normandy on D-Day +30. He fought throughout Europe until the end of the war and remained in Germany as part of the occupation force. He completed his education in Germany as a mining engineer. Five other Chinese born escapees will also attend Marion's presentation.	27 October 2011	N/A
Major Bailey Pendergrass Jr Army/Air Force Major Bailey Pendergrass, Jr, certainly has had a full career, spanning from a paratrooper on Tinian in 1945 where he was wounded, to becoming a fighter pilot in the 1950's, serving in SAC, Vietnam, and finally flying for World Airways. Major Pendergrass has flown P-51 Mustangs, F-80's, F-86's, B-47's, B-52's, F-4c's among other military aircraft. He shot down a Mig 15 near Lahr, Germany in 1956 while in the 91st Bomb Wing of SAC. He served in the Pacific Theater, North Africa in the 50's and later in Vietnam. After his long military career, he went on to fly with World Airways flying 707's, DC-8's, DC-10's and 747's. He was on the famous rescue mission in Da Nang, Vietnam in 1975 with World's president Ed Daly. As Daly's aircraft taxied for takeoff, Daly literally fought people off the back doors of the 727 due to over crowing as the plane took off. Bailey orbited above, as his aircraft was too heavy to land. Bailey fought two battles in his life, one of racism and the other for country, but giving up was never an option for him on his way to his achieving his dream! A very special evening for sure!	22 September 2011	N/A
Lou Vecchi Lou Vecchi Plt. Sgt. H Co. 506th PIR. 101st AB Div. Two combat jumps, BS and PH. A Martinez native, Lou Vecchi was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. A draftee into the service he already knew which branch of the service he wanted to be attached to. He told his mother that he wanted to be a paratrooper for they had the best training and the best chance of survival if and when he was surrounded by the enemy. He surprised his recruiter by telling him he wanted to volunteer to be a paratrooper he had to wait for the training camp to be built in Tacoa GA. He was sent on to Fort Benning GA by way of a forced march from Atlanta GA in a record three days. He said he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and into Holland in the Market Garden campaign. And he fought across Germany, liberating at least one concentration camp along the way, he added. "It was the Landsburg slave labor camp (a Dachau death camp satellite camp)," Vecchi said. "When we got there, the people were practically dead from starvation. I know there are people who say the Holocaust didn't happen, but that's bull. I saw it."	25 August 2011	N/A
Leroy Parker Army Air Force By Cathy Tallyn Staff writer, Rossmoor News. LeRoy Parker is the latest French Legion of Honor awardee. There's no disputing the patriotism of LeRoy Parker. He proudly flies an American flag at his manor's front door. And in his home office is a display of the medals he was awarded for his efforts in World War II and for his father's in World War I. The Rossmoor resident flew 35 combat missions over France and Germany as a navigator on a B-24 bomber. Parker displays the Distinguished Flying Cross he was awarded before being shipped home from England at the end of the Second World War. And along with that medal is one that came 66 years later - the French Legion of Honor. Parker, a retired lawyer, is the latest Rossmoor resident to be so honored by the French with that nation's highest military honor. Earlier this month at Dollar Clubhouse, Parker had the medal with its red ribbon pinned on him by French Deputy Consul General Patrice Servantie. He told Parker and his friends that had gathered that France was honoring the virtues of courage, dedication and sacrifice. Those values need to be protected, he said. The award was made for Parker's efforts to help liberate France during World War II. He feels humbled by the French award. A coincidence brought him to the attention of the French. Parker's wartime record includes flying two missions on D-Day. While at a similar medal presentation ceremony for friend William Kalan, he struck up a conversation with a French woman. He shared some of his wartime experiences and discovered that she was a Legion of Honor recipient for her efforts in the French resistance. She filled out the paperwork and six months later, Parker was notified that he had been awarded the Legion of Honor. He enlisted at age 18 Parker can recall his war experiences from the day he enlisted at age 18 in March 1943 to the war's end and back to the life of a civilian. While in the air corps, Parker had both good and bad experiences. A good experience was the two weeks he experienced flying a circuitous route from the United States to England, where he was based to fly missions across the English Channel to Europe. “Those two weeks were the most marvelous experience in my life,” he said. “There were 10 guys in a brand new aircraft half way around the world. It was a great experience.” His worst experience, he said, was when his plane had to fly a mission over the Seine River to help destroy that city's beautiful bridges. Parker has stories about bombing runs, air battles with the Germans, near-death experiences and a crash landing. Remembering D-Day But when he tells his World War II stories, he begins with D-Day. At the brink of day, his plane flew a diversionary run to help keep the Germans from figuring out where in France the Allied invasion would be. He remembers the sight of thousands of ships and planes flying from England to the coast of France. “I had an unforgettable view of the invasion forces,” he said. After his crew landed back in England, he was asked to go on a second run, this time over Omaha Beach. “The commanding officer called me in and said, ‘We need you for one more mission.' Š I thought about it for a minute or two and said, ‘I'll go.'” Despite German resistance, his plane made it to France and back in one piece. A bomber's targets were air fields, railroad yards and manufacturing plants, Parker said. A bomber's enemy was flak and German fighter planes. The flight time for bombing raids and their return to England was 10 to 12 hours. Sometimes during the year that he flew missions, his plane had fighter cover and sometimes it didn't, he said. Parker told the story of one time pulling rank to leave his navigator's position to fly in the nose turret so he could fire its two machine guns at the Germans. When the battle was over, Parker returned to his navigator's table and saw a 6-inch bullet hole where he would have been sitting. “I would have been shot, maybe killed,” He said. Of the 90 airplanes that took off on the mission, 14 didn't return.	28 July 2011	N/A
Madame Odette Le Pendu Madame Odette Le Pendu - French Resistance Fighter (Maquis). Born 1923 in San Francisco of French parents. Steeped in the French tradition and language. Joined the Maquis at age 18 and left for France. Arrested by Gestapo and imprisoned for a week in January of 1945. Recipient of Legion d'Honneur Medal Works with French Consulate in San Francisco as volunteer to find American service personnel who have DD 214, preferably with a Purple Heart, and someone to validate their service to make them eligible for receipt of same medal by the French Government.	23 June 2011	N/A
Sgt Michael H Flowers Marines Sgt. Michael H. Flowers (CAF member Tom and Jeanette Flowers son) * USMC June 1964 thru June 1969 * December 1973 thru December 1975 * First tour in Viet Nam October 1966 thru November 1967 with VMCJ-1 Mag 11 1st. Maw * Second tour in Viet Nam June 1968 thru June 1969 with VMO2 Mag 16, 1st. Marine Air wing at Marble Mountain Air facility. * Our mission was to escorting supply helicopters and troop transports and fire support missions. * Volunteer Door Gunner from 8/68 thru 3/69. 150+ missions. * Navy Marine Corp Medal * Air Medal * Combat Action Ribbon * Presidential Unit Citation * Combat Air Crew Wings * Parachute Jump Wings * Michael will be speaking about January 1969 Tet Offensives and his role as a crew member on night emergency Medical evacuation.	27 May 2011	N/A
Larry Rinek Larry will present an interesting PowerPoint slide show overview, followed by a 22 minute DVD video of the B-1B in action. He will provide background on the prototype aircraft plus production models, discuss innovative technical features (such as variable-geometry wings supported by a massive titanium structure), and review the B-1B combat record (exemplary service in Afghanistan and Iraq). Larry will have a well-detailed scale model on hand for hangar flying. BR> Presenter Larry Rinek is a Senior Technology Consultant, Technical Insights Division at Frost & Sullivan in Mountain View, California. He is also a recognized aviation historian with many publications to his credit, former USAF officer, former student pilot (Piper J-3 Cub), trained engineer, and veteran of the US aerospace industry. He is an active member of the AIAA and SAE technical societies, as well as the American Aviation Historical Society (AAHS), Society for Aviation History (SAH), Wings of History (WOH), and the Aircraft Engine Historical Society (AEHS). He earned a BS (with honors) in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in Marketing, both from UCLA, and has over 35 years of consulting experience. Many of his projects were sponsored by leading aerospace companies around the world, particularly when he worked for SRI International (the former Stanford Research Institute) in Menlo Park for 24 years.	28 April 2011	N/A
Lieutenant Lou Gibbs US Navy Flight training begin at age 18 at San Jose State with the CPT program. Enlisted in the Navy at 19 and was selected for the Navy enlisted pilot program. After training he was: * Assigned to North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego for multi-engine training * Rated: NA,CPO * Assigned to VB-102 in 1943 for squadron 2nd tour of duty in Pacific * Attach to FAW Ford Island, Hawaii * Attended Naval School at Northwester Univ., Chicago * Assign to VFX-200 Patuxant River NAS short time before being release from active duty * Remained in Naval Reserve for additional two years	24 March 2011	N/A
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cleveland Valrey US Army (Ret.) * Chief Warrant Officer Four Cleveland Valrey’s is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his distinguished military career which began at age sixteen in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. After three years he enlisted in the Army for Airborne Training in 1949. When the call was made for volunteers to be trained as Army Rangers, he eagerly submitted his name and became one of the original members of 2nd Airborne Ranger Infantry Company. * He participated in all company campaigns and raids from the time that the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company arrived in Korea until the company was deactivated in August 1951. * Serving as Assistant Squad Leader when his Squad Leader was killed in action, he assumed command of the squad and conducted numerous patrols, raids and deep penetration operations against North Korean and Chinese forces.	24 February 2011	CAF-1102
LT Thomas E "Tom" Gehman USN Education: B. S. Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania 1960 Military Service: Midshipman, University of Pennsylvania, NROTC Regular Scholarship Program 1956-1960 Company Commander Commissioned Ensign USN, Jun 1960 USS Hazelwood (DD531) Jun-Oct 1960 Flight Training: Pensacola, FL; Meridian, MS; Kingsville, TX Oct 1960 - May 1962 Designated Naval Aviator May 1962 Naval Justice School, Newport, RI Jun 1962 Attack Squadron 125, NAS Lemoore, CA Sep 1962 Attack Squadron 56, NAS Lemoore, CA USS Ticonderoga (Vietnam) Mar 1963 - Nov 1965 -- Legal Officer -- Personnel Officer -- Landing Signal Officer (Air Wing Qualified) -- Material Control Officer Resigned Regular Commission LT USN Nov 1965 Accepted Reserve Commission LT USNR Nov 1965 Attack Squadron 832, NAS New York Aug 1966 Attack Squadron 303, NAS Alameda, CA 1967-1980 -- Operations Officer -- Executive Officer -- Commanding Officer Promoted to Captain USNR 1980 Commanding Officer, USS RANGER CV61 Reserve Unit 1980 Commanding Officer, Light Attack Wing Pacific (LATWINGPAC) Reserve Unit, NAS Lemoore 1981-1983 Commanding Officer, USS Carl Vinson CVN70 Reserve Unit 1984-1985 Retired Reserve Oct 1989 Military Flight Hours: 3,410 Carrier Arrested Landings: ~ 400 Aircraft flown: F9F-8, F11F, A3, A4(A,B,C,E), A7(A,B) Carriers Landed On (10): Hornet, Antietam, Lexington, Ticonderoga, Midway, Hancock, Coral Sea, Constellation, Ranger, Enterprise Commercial Flying: United Airlines based at Newark, NJ and San Francisco, CA Dec 1965 - May 1999 Commercial Hours ~ 33,000 Aircraft flown: DC6, B727, DC8, DC10 Retired (Captain, DC10) May 1999	27 January 2011	CAF-1101
Col. Tito Gandarillas Moruza USA (Ret) * Born February 15, 1921 in Santander, Spain * Attended and graduated from CAL Berkeley - as non-citizen was not allowed to participate in ROTC * Married Margaret De Longpre March 8, 1942 and volunteered for the Army upon graduation - processed through Ft. Ord. * Volunteered for the 10th Mountain Division where he trained at Camp Hale, Colorado * Volunteered for the Army's Counter Intelligence Corps - trained at Ft. Holobird, Baltimore, MD * Parachute training at Ft. Benning, GA * Sent to England * Landed in Glider with 82nd AB on D-Day in Normandy, France in which the tree soldiers next to him were killed - made his way to St. Mere-Eglise, the first town liberated, to rendevous point. * Became "migrant farm worker" enroute to Paris, which he entered on August 7, 1944. His job was to keep track of activities of Gestapo HQ and its records. * Three days before liberation of Paris he saved the Gestapo files from being destoyed by fire. * These files were used in the Nuremburg Trials. * Speaking four languages, Tito assisted Displaced Persons and war refugees following the war, while presumably looking for infiltrators, spies, Germans trying to avoid detection, etc. * Involved in the planning for Vietnam and Grenada. A fascinating story. Come to hear a true hero	18 November 2010	CAF-1011
Charles Fender * Born Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, 1918. * Schooled at Oxford, Garfield and University High (now Oakland Children's Hospital Research Facility. * Matriculated to UC Berkeley in Political Science, graduated in 1937. * Played oboe in the Cal Band, including the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl New Years 1938. (Cal beat Alabama 13 to 7 under Coach Stub Allison!!) * Stiles Hall (UC YMCA) president 1941; Order of the Golden Bear and Warden; Valedictorian of class. Senior Week with Clavel Reite, class '43 vice pres. * Drafted into army Oct. '41. * OCS Ft. Oglethorpe and posted to Ft. Riley and Ft. Custer in military police. * Civil Affairs posting to British 8th Army 1943 - '45. * Stanford Business School '47 - '49. * Various sales positions ending with 20 years as Investment broker with EF Hutton. "People listen when EF Hutton talks." * Retired 1985. * Active in United Church of Christ, Kensington. Berkeley/Albany YMCA; Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate, Berth 40, Oakland. Married 68 years.	28 October 2010	CAF-1010
Lt. Col. James H. Stanhope USAF (Ret) * Born in 1923 in Everett, WA * Moved with his mother to Alameda (Hayward and then to Niles Canyon shortly thereafter) * Met his wife, Juanita, while in grammar school * Attended Washington High School in Fremont * After seeing P-39's fly over the Bay Area (probably from Hamilton AFB), he volunteered to join the Army Air Corps as a Cadet. * Sent to Montana State University for ground school, he was in Class 44C flying P-40s at Luke AFB, P-39's at Eufreda, WA, and P-38's at Van Nuys. A fellow test pilot of Tony Levier, Milo Bertram, trained his how to fly the P-38 with one engine out. * Deployed to Italy at a mere 6 knots on the USS Patch, a troopship. * Arrived Naples and rode on a 6X6 to San Severo on the East Coast of Italy * Joined the 14th FG, 48th FS and flew 36 missions of different types * Returned home and separated from the AAF. * Rejoined a year later as a Regular Officer and served in Korea and Peru before separating from the USAF in January 1965 * Juanita and Jim have one daughter and live in Fremont today	23 September 2010	CAF-1009
Gerald Mahan Born 1915 Learned to fly in CPT during college in Southern California - all 29 colleagues in his flight class died in operational accidents. Taught aerobatics. Hired by Pan American in 1941 Flew "boats" to Hawaii - 24 hour flights as navigator. Checked out as Captain in DC-3's in 1943 in Miami Remained with Pan Am until 1974 when he retired. Wonderful stories about Mr. Tripp, the founder of Pan Am, Ken Beer, Abbot and Costello, etc. Be sure and come hear this unique part of aviation history.	26 August 2010	CAF-1008
Army Signal Corps Officer Murray Hannah He was an Army Signal Corps Officer during WWII on one of four "lighters", shallow draft ships which originally were self-propelled, but which had large diesel operated generators placed in them during the war. They were then pulled by sea-going tug boats throughout the South Pacific to act as transmission and reception platforms for the military sending and recieving signals from Australia (where MacArthur was) to the antenna farms at Bolinas and Point Arena to keep Washington apprised of the progress of the war. I am assuming that all battalions and larger units in the Army, naval vessels and the Army Air Corps also used these unique facilities with HF and UHF transmission and reception capability ( and cryptography as well) to communicate with the other side of the world. Please come to hear a very sharp gentleman whose story is completely different from all those you have heard.	22 July 2010	CAF-1007
Sgt Michael H Flowers Marines Sgt. Michael H. Flowers (CAF member Tom and Jeanette Flowers son) * USMC June 1964 thru June 1969 * December 1973 thru December 1975 * First tour in Viet Nam October 1966 thru November 1967 with VMCJ-1 Mag 11 1st. Maw * Second tour in Viet Nam June 1968 thru June 1969 with VMO2 Mag 16, 1st. Marine Air wing at Marble Mountain Air facility. * Our mission was to escorting supply helicopters and troop transports and fire support missions. * Volunteer Door Gunner from 8/68 thru 3/69. 150+ missions. * Navy Marine Corp Medal * Air Medal * Combat Action Ribbon * Presidential Unit Citation * Combat Air Crew Wings * Parachute Jump Wings * Michael will be speaking about January 1969 Tet Offensives and his role as a crew member on night emergency Medical evacuation.	24 June 2010	N/A
Ben Marsh Restoring a Yak-55! Ben Marsh just started flying his YAK-55 which he has been restoring for several years. He will talk about the process of restoring an aircraft, which was crashed by its previous owner. This involved sheet metal work, electrical, hydraulics, avionics, the engine, painting, brakes, every aspect of what it takes to make metal fly.	24 June 2010	CAF-1006
Bill Hodges USS "POTOMAC", FDR's Private Yacht Bill Hodges has been involved with the USS "Potomac" Association for thirteen years, as docent, narrator, speaker and crewman. Of course the historic USS "Potomac" was FDR's (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt) private yacht during his presidency, through WWII until he died in office. The ship, now restored, remains in Alameda, open for tours and events. Bill and his wife, Sue, live in Oakland, and between them have had four children and many grandchildren. Served in the Naval Air Force, ’65 – ’67, where their motto was: “That’s the breaks of Naval Air, Better known as Air Brakes, or Skid marks in the sky!” He serves as Chairman of the Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission, and is past President of the Alameda County NRA Members Council and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 400 (East Bay). While not engaged in these activities, Bill is an independent manufacturer’s representative in the photographic industry. His presentation also includes a 14-minute video, with some historic footage.	27 May 2010	CAF-1005
Lieutenant George W. Martin USN Lt. George W. Martin, Naval Gunfire Liason Officer with 22nd and 25th Regiments Enlisted in US Navy in Boston, MA on April 27, 1942 Camps and Units USNR Midshipman School: Notre Dame, IN. Amphibious Training Force 9, 5th Amphibious Corps, 1st Marine Biegade, 4th Marine Division, FMF Pacific, ComPhibsTraPac. Date Shipped out: August 1953 to Adak, Alaska Combat Missions: Kiska, Kwajalein, Enewetok, Guam, Peleliu and Iwo Jima. Medals / Awards: American Area, Asiatic Pacific (4 stars), WWII Victory Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action.. Iwo Jima: Date and wave. 19 February 1945, 3rd wave. Rank Unit: Lt. JG USNR 1st JASCO 25th Regiment, 4th Marine Division Date Left Iwo Jima: 16 March, 1945	22 April 2010	CAF-1004
Adolfo "Harpo" Celaya USN Sailor, WWII * Survivor of the sinking of the famous USS Indianapolis Cruiser, CA-35 * On board during bombardment of Iwo Jima; witnessed flag raising on Mt. Suribachi * On board during bombardment of Okinawa; survived ships' direct hit by a kamikaze * Sprinted from Mare Island, CA to Tinian to deliver the first atomic bomb--on Hiroshima * Torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 night of 29 - 30, 1945 * After WWII, finished high school and led his small-town team to the state basketball championship * Released his book, HARPO, this year - available while at GGW	25 March 2010	CAF-1003
Aviation Historian LARRY RINEK LARRY RINEK, Aviation Historian, Lecturer, Author, Senior Consultant PowerPoint slide show presentation, with expert commentary, about the Convair F-106 "Delta Dart” supersonic jet interceptor * BS - Industrial Engineering and MBA - Marketing, both at UCLA. * Active member of American Aviation Historical Society, Aircraft Engine Historic Society, Wings of History, Society for Aviation History … * Part-time university-level instructor in aeronautical engineering, including Stanford University * Places emphasis on USA aviation technology innovation, particularly aero- Propulsion and USAF Cold War-era aircraft * Began lengthy career in aerospace industry: NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs; Menascos’ Burbank aircraft landing gear; USAF- Los Angeles AFS * Presently a Senior Consultant for Frost & Sullivan for Automotive & Transport- ation segment as well as the Aerospace and Defense segment * Authored ~ 20 scholarly publications, many about the early development of American aviation technology Larry will present a short video clip of the Mach 2.3 Delta Dart in action, then a lively, fascinating PowerPoint slide show, including many aircraft images and insights about the famous Delta Dart which served America for nearly 40 years. The F-106, successor to the F-102 Delta Dagger, had one mission—intercepting and destroying airspace intruders, especially Soviet bombers. It also carried nuclear-tip air-to-air missiles. A highlight will be an exploration of a highly unusual true incident, involving a “rogue” F-106A performing amazing feats after the pilot bailed-out from a flat spin. Larry will have a well-detailed scale model of the F-106 for demonstration.	25 February 2010	CAF-1002
CAPT Archie F. "Lin" Maltbie USAAF WWII P-47 Thunderbolt Combat Pilot, ETO: Normandy, Battle of the Bulge 388th FS, 365th FG “HELL HAWKS”, 9th Air Force * Born October 17th, 1923 in Anthony, KA; raised on a nearby farm until age 13 * Moved with family to California; graduated from Turlock High School in 1941 * Began working at Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, helping build the famous SBD Dauntless dive bomber * Enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 19th birthday and called-up in January 1943 * Placed in group of Aviation Cadets, then after basic training, selected for Pilot Training at Maxwell Field, AL * Graduated with pilot wings and 2nd LT commission from Advanced Flight Training School in Marianna, FL, Class 43K, in December 1943 * Gunnery training at Pensacola, FL; P-40 flight time at Marietta, GA, then to Perry, FL for transition and combat training in P-47s * April 1944 sent to Camp Kilmer, NJ for overseas processing to combat duty * Left NYC Harbor aboard the Queen Mary, along with 10,000 others, arriving in Scotland April 1944 * After ETO orientation, assigned to the 388th FS, 365th FG (the HELL HAWKS!) in the 9th Air Force, flying the mighty P-47 Thunderbolt * First combat mission May 1, 1944 from England, then moved to ALG 7 near Omaha Beach on June 27th, flying off metal mat landing strip build under fire * Promoted to 1st LT and Flight Leader in July 1944, then to CAPT and Assistant Operations Officer in March 1945 * Shot down a Luftwaffe Me-109 on August 19th, 1944—debris from which resulted in his forced parachute jump and 10 days of evading behind enemy lines * Two (2) confirmed aerial victories, 98 combat missions * Awards and decorations include the DFC, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster * Returned to USA (Boston) aboard Liberty Ship “William & Mary” in Sept.1945 * Achieved MAJ and LT COL promotions while in the Air Force Reserves * Earned BS in Pharmaceutical Science from USC; active pharmacist 35 years, including ownership of two independent pharmacies * Wife Joan (married in London in December 1944); two sons: John and Roger * Avid golfer, still playing, and a true patriot! *	28 January 2010	CAF-1001
Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. William H. Holloman III U.S. Army (Ret.) - Entered US Army in early 1943, graduated in Flight Training Class 44H at Tuskegee, AL. - Assigned to 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group in Italy where he flew escort, strafing and sweep missions with the "Red Tails." Qualified in P-40's, P-51's, P-47's and P-39's. - Returned to US and joined the Army Air Corps Reserve where he flew P-47's - studied at St. Louis University when called back to active duty in SAC during Berlin Airlift - B-29's, B-50's at Travis AFB - transferred to MATS at Travis AFB where he flew C-124's, C-54's, C-119's, and C-97's. - transported wounded from Korea to the States during the Korean War. - 1st Black helicopter pilot in USAF - trained at San Marcos, TX and joined Air Sea Rescue unit. - Joined the US Army as a Warrant Officer pilot - promoted to CWO-2 and CWO-3 - called back to active duty as Major in 1966 for Vietnam where he commanded teh 268th Aviation Battallion at Tuy Hoa (4 assault helicopter companies flying UH-1D's with a platoon of UH-1C gunships per company. - Replaced as CO by West Pointer and sent to Saigon as 1st Aviation Brigade HQ Safety Officer. - Assigned to Augsburg, Germany as Safety Officer - promoted to Lt. Col. - Retired after 30 years.	19 November 2009	CAF-0911
Staff Sergeant Robert L. Smith US Army Robert L. Smith was born in San Diego, California in 1924, graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1942, and inducted into the United States Army in 1943. He was trained as a surgical technician before being shipped to Normandy, France in July, 1944. He served as a company aid man with the 28th Infantry Division from July 16th until wounded in Wallendorf, Germany in September. Returning to combat, just before the Battle of the Ardennes in December, 1944, he was promoted from private to staff sergeant. His military decorations include The Purple Heart, The Bronze Star, five Battle Stars for the European Theater of operations, Combat Medical Badge, and the Good Conduct Medal.	22 October 2009	CAF-0910
Zdzislaw "Ziggy" Jarkiewicz Polish Underground, WWII, Combat Veteran, Warsaw Uprising Fought the Germans, then the Russians * Born in 1925 in Betlewo, Poland * Joined the Polish Underground Home Army, Grazyna Company, Harnas Battalion, Army Krajowa (AK) * Wounded seriously twice during his long combat * Key participant in famous Warsaw Uprising, August 1 – October 2, 1944 * Captured by the Germans, but escaped enroute to POW camp * Recaptured and taken to a labor camp in Berlin * Escaped again and made it to Czechoslovakia, then arrested & placed under custody of the German Labor Department. * For the third time, escaped again and managed to reach Italy, joining the Polish Army, under British Command and served until the end of WWII. * Sent to England for discharge, earned Certificate as a Technician in EE * Witnessing the fall of Poland into Russian hands by political agreement of world powers, he refused to return to Poland – finally a visa to the USA, 1952 * Twice honored as Hero of Poland; just returned from Poland for 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising	24 September 2009	CAF-0909
Dennis Miller F1C, USN Survivor of Kamikazie Sinking of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) - Last US Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII, 21 February 1945 * "Plank Holder" of USS Bismarck Sea; launched 17 April 1944, commissioned 20 May 1944 & began escorting convoys between San Diego & the Marshall Islands * Served as Fireman First Class (F1C) in Forward Fireroom, close to ship’s island, & maintained the bunker-fuel boiler, right above the bilges; 4 hrs "on", 8 hrs "off" * Steamed to Ulithi, Caroline Islands to join the 7th Fleet; 14-23 November 1944 operated off Leyte in support of operations, then 9-18 January 1945 helped in the Lingayen Gulf (Luzon) invasion landings * 16 February 1945 arrived off Iwo Jima to support the Marines’ invasion 19 Feb. * After sundown 21 February 1945 & recovering her own aircraft, aircraft from the USS Saratoga, landing on the Bismark Sea, were followed by Japanese Kamikazie airplanes which attacked * Despite damaging anti-aircraft fire from Bismark Sea, two suicide planes struck her - one close to F1C Miller’s position, the second one through the flight deck, creating massive explosions, fire and death * Within an hour, increasing damages forced CAPT John H. Pratt to issue orders to "abandon ship" into heavy seas & darkness. Bismarck Sea sank in 90 minutes * Survivors rescued that night and next morning - by US Navy Destroyers - taken to Iwo Jima area & boarded onto Navy transport ships. Next 3 days provided a grandstand, and witnessing the Flag Raising on Mt. Suribachi, aka "Hot Rocks"	27 August 2009	N/A
LT COL Jim Reed USAF (Ret) USAF Command Pilot, FAA Airline Transport Pilot Rating, Corporate Pilot, Coast Guard Master of Motor Vessels (500 Tons), Coast Guard Master of Sailing Vessels (50 Tons & Unlimited Radar) * Joined USAF & earned his pilot wings November 1954 @ Jet Fighter School * Assigned to France flying C-119s, then to Randolph AFB, TX as a KC-97 Air Refueling Instructor. * After Randolph, assigned to classified duty for seven (7) years with world-wide travel * In 1969 assigned to SCATBACK flying T-39 Saberliners for Combat Courier Missions, including US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ellsworth Bunker * After Vietnam Tour, assigned to Air Defense Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs, as Operations Officer and Command Flight Examiner * Next, Commander of Air Force Radar Squadron @ Boca Chica Naval Air Station, Key West, FL * After 20+ years in the USAF, joined a start-up airline called Air Sunshine based in Key West flying DC-3s; achieved Captain, Chief Pilot, then Director and VP-Operations	23 July 2009	CAF-0907
Larry Rinek Aviation Historian, Lecturer, Author, Senior Consultant * Active member of American Aviation Historical Society, Aircraft Engine Historic Society, Wings of History, Society for Aviation History. * Part-time university-level instructor in aeronautical engineering, including Stanford University * Places emphasis on USA aviation technology innovation, particularly aero-propulsion and USAF Cold War-era aircraft. * Began lengthy career in aerospace industry: NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs; Menascos’ Burbank aircraft landing gear; USAF- Los Angeles AFS. * Authored 20 scholarly publications, many about the early development of American aviation technology. Larry will present a lively, fascinating PowerPoint slide show including many aircraft images and insights about the mighty B-36 "Peacemaker", a truly revolutionary aircraft that made major contributions to US military history. Some of the technical innovations pioneered on the B-36 -- that still survive today as industry standards -- include 3,000 psi hydraulics and 400 Hz main power bus. As a front-line USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) aircraft, the B-36 served America well as a nuclear deterrent for over 10 years. During 1953-1955, the B-36 was the only US platform that could deliver thermonuclear weapons such as the huge Mark 17 H-Bomb. Although the Peacemaker dropped live nuclear test weapons, it never had to be used in anger. The presentation will conclude with a breathtaking DVD video clip of a B-36H taking off from Carswell AFB (Fort Worth, TX) in 1954.	25 June 2009	CAF-0906
LT Frank W Balsley Naval Aviator, USN (Ret) WWII: VB-8, VF-5; 25 Years in Navy * Joined Navy Reserve in 1940 & worked at North American Aviation on B-25s * Sent to Hawaii & assigned to VB-8, legendary torpedo squadron, as a ball-turret gunner on TBFs aboard the USS Saratoga * Arrived 7 August 1942 in the Guadalcanal theater at the beginning of this pivotal campaign * Flew combat with Pilot Gene Hanson during successful attack against Japanese carrier Ryujo, sinking it 24 August, 1942 * From 12 August – 1 December 1942, flew off Guadalcanal’s Henderson Field, during the massive naval bombardment nightly by the Japanese Imperial Navy * 13 October was the heaviest bombardment; tent and mosquito net shredded, but he survived; fled to hills & joined 7th Marines on sniper patrols * Evacuated to a French Island, reached Hawaii via Pan Am Clipper 1 December 1942 * Served as Aviation Mechanic, then accepted for Flight Training; earned Wings of Gold with rank of Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP); flew off carriers including USS Shangrila * Flew over 10,000 hours in nearly every aircraft in the Navy arsenal, including F6F, F8F, F7F, TV1(F-80), TV2(T-33), R4D, …	28 May 2009	CAF-0905
Colonel Richard "Dick" Hum, USAF (ret) “Air Force Intelligence in the Cold War” A talk by Col. Richard Hum, USAF (Ret.) Thursday April 23, at 6.00 PM (Talk at 8:00PM) Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda, CA Building 77 at Alameda Point. Col. Richard Hum was the principal air attache to President Nixon, regularly briefing the president on Cold War intelligence involving the People’s Republic of China. In 1976, while commander of the 7602nd Air Intelligence Group he was appointed the executive agent for the Department of Defense in the interrogation of Soviet defector Lt. Victor Belenko, who flew a MiG-25 "Foxbat" jet fighter to Hakodate, Japan. This was the first time that Western experts were able to get a close look at the aircraft, and it revealed many secrets and surprises. The Golden Gate Wing of the CAF is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the heritage and spirit of American military aviation heritage. It holds monthly dinner meetings featuring speakers connected with history	23 April 2009	CAF-0904
Robert Gilliland USAF Meet Bob Gilliland, the first test pilot for the SR-71 “Blackbird” Come meet and listen to Bob Gilliland, the first test pilot for the SR-71 “Blackbird” Aircraft Series. He has logged more experimental supersonic flight test time above Mach 2 and Mach 3 than any other pilot. Bob Gilliland was only 17 years old when he joined the U.S. Navy during WWII and he served on various warships. After the war, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he soloed in the T-6 and continued to fly the F-8O Shooting Star, the P-47 Thunderbolt and the F-84 Thunderjet. In 1952 he went on a combat tour in Korea flying the F-84. When he came back he had the opportunity to fly most of the aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory as a test pilot at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. After he retired from active service, he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard where he flew the P-51, B-26, RF-80, RF-84 and the F-104A. In 1960 he joined Lockheed as a civilian test pilot flying all models of the F- 104 Starfighter. He worked closely with the Air Forces of many different countries and he made the first flight of the Fiat-Aeritalia F-104S produced in Italy under license from Lockheed. Bob went on to test the fastest and highest flying airplanes ever built, including the A-12, YF-12A, and the SR-71. He was the first and principal test pilot for the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. He made the first flight of the SR-71 right before Christmas 1964, when he flew it for one hour and over 1,000 mph, taking the aircraft to mach 1.5 and 50,000 feet altitude. As the SR-71 program continued to grow, Gilliland continued to be the first pilot to fly each Blackbird as it became operational, logging more experimental supersonic flight test-time above Mach 2 and Mach 3 than any other pilot. Bob is now retired after he logged over 6,500 hours in many different aircraft, including the F-104, F-84, F-86, T-6, P-47, FY-12A, and SR-71. You will have the opportunity to meet Bob in person at the Golden Gate Wing’s dinner meeting in March as he speaks about his experiences. Thursday March 26, at 6.30 PM Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda, CA Building 77 at Alameda Point.	26 March 2009	CAF-0903
1LT Stu Eberhardt USAF * This is PART II, a continuation of the talk Stu gave on October 23rd, 2008. * First Lieutenant Stu Eberhardt was on alert in Europe with the Air Defense Command from 1957 to 1961 flying F-86s. His first assignment was to shoot down Russian Bears, but only if they got out of line of course! Later, he was on alert as a Nuclear Bomb Commander with a very specific target behind the Iron Curtain. Stu had a Top Secret clearance and was trained and ready to strike on a moments notice. * He will share with us many stories from this crucial time period when the Soviet Union and the United States we only minutes away from total destruction! Stu has some fascinating stories to share!	26 February 2009	CAF-0902
LT COL Martin A. Knutson USAF, CIA and NASA PILOT- Combat, Recon, Test, Research * Joined Navy Reserve & trained as a ball-turret gunner in TBF “Avenger”. * KOREA: F-84s, F-86s; Selected by Curtis LeMay for SAC Fighter Group, F-86s. * VIETNAM & COLD WAR: One of only six pilots first selected for the CIA’s Air Division to fly U-2s, often over the Soviet Union. * Joined NASA - Ames Research Center in early 1971 as Manager of Airborne Instrumentation Research, then Chief of Airborne Missions & Applications * Involved with numerous aircraft at NASA, from F-104, F-18, X-29, F-15, CV-990 Space Shuttle Landing Gear Test Vehicle and, finally, the legendary SR-71 “Blackbird”, which he flew at Mach 3.275 when he was 67 years young! * Awards and decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Meritorious Service Award, Intelligence Star (twice), NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Award and the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive; Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (Associate Fellow), Charter Member of the Senior Executive Service ( Federal Government).	22 January 2009	CAF-0901
William T. Larkins USAAF William T. Larkins, AAF Photographer and Author, born March 1922, Bakersfield, CA. Graduate of University of San Francisco '43, 3 years in AAF in WW2 (graduate of AAF Photography School at Lowry Field), 3 years in Calif ANG, 31 years Audio-Visual Specialist and Administrative Assistant, University of California Berkeley. Founder, Member No 1 and first editor of American Aviation Historical Society Journal. Bill has been photographing aircraft continually since 1934 and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1930. Bill will discuss the WWII Aircraft scrapings, the planning and strategy behind it and show us many pictures from his photo collection taken at local Bay Area airports. Salvaging WWII airplanes was the catalyst for the beginnings of the Confederate Air Force in 1957!	20 November 2008	CAF-0811
1LT Stu Eberhardt USAF * Stu was a guest speaker on November 18th, 1999 speaking about his Reno Air Racing experiences. This time, Stu will speak about his experience flying a North American F-86 Sabre Jet. * First Lieutenant Stu Eberhardt was on alert in Europe with the Air Defense Command from 1957 to 1961 flying F-86s. His first assignment was to shoot down Russian Bears, but only if they got out of line of course! Later, he was on alert as a Nuclear Bomb Commander with a very specific target behind the Iron Curtain. Stu had a Top Secret clearance and was trained and ready to strike on a moments notice. * He will share with us many stories from this crucial time period when the Soviet Union and the United States we only minutes away from total destruction! Stu has some fascinating stories to share!	23 October 2008	CAF-0810
Leutnant Jorg Cizpionka ME262 Pilot (Jorg was originally scheduled to speak in April but had to postpone) * Born 1921 in Grunewald, Berlin * Joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 - just wanted to fly. * Instructed in the "fliegerschule" in Wels (near Linz), Austria in over 30 different aircraft. * Attended flighter pilot school in 1944, and learned to fly the ME-262, the first jet fighter. * Assigned to a Special Commando unit - Nacht Jagt Geschwader (Night Fighter Squadron) 11 within NJG 10, he flew out of Burg, near Magdeburg, against the British RAF Mosquitos, which carried a 2,000 lb. each, and followed in groups of 69 at times a Pathfinder which marked the targets for them. * At the end of the war his squadron flew off of the Autobahns near Uterberg in Schleswig-Holstein, not far from the Danish border. His squadron did not destroy their 6-7 ME-262s, but turned them over to the British in August 1945.	25 September 2008	CAF-0809
LT CMDR Terry Howell USN (Ret) * Designated a Naval Aviator with "Wings of Gold" on September 1961 at NAS-Corpus Christi * Sent to NAS-North Island, in a RAG, ready for assignment to the Fleet as a fighter pilot * "Luck of the draw" led to assignment, instead, to P5M "Marlin" Flying Boats in Patrol Squadrons * Flew five (5) combat tours in Southeast Asia during Vietnam War -- armed reconnaissance patrol * 1st two (2) tours in VP-47, flying armed P5Ms -- bombs, rockets and guns -- in 1964 & 1965 * Took-off from Manila Bay (JATO Assist) to Tonkin Gulf, round trip; also squadron test pilot * Next three (3) tours to Vietnam in P-3 "Orion" in 1966, 1971 & 1973 * Also, one (1) tour onboard carrier USS "Midway", handpicked as the CIC Air Warfare Officer * Flew many years from NAS-Moffet Field in P-3s, anti-submarine warfare missions * Flew T-28, S-2F, P5M, P-3, T-33 and other aircraft; over 6,000 flight hours, 3,000 in P-3s	28 August 2008	CAF-0808
Sergeant Major Mike "Iron Mike" Mervosh USMC Ret. * Born in 1923 in Pittsburgh PA * Mike Mervosh graduated from South High School in 1942 * Mervosh began his career with the Marines after enlisting in the Corps in 1942 * Mervosh was one of the first Marines to then help form the Fourth Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California * On Iwo Jima, Mervosh was promoted to Company commander after all the officers and noncoms above him were killed * I wasn’t scared of anybody, I just wanted to kill more goddamned Japs * The two Purple Hearts, were both awarded Mervosh on Iwo Jima for wounds to his legs and stomach * Mike was a boxer, he won the 4th Infantry Division middleweight boxing championship * Between two wars he served in five different Marine divisions * When Marines were sent to fight in the Korean War, Mervosh served with G Company, 3rd battalion, 5th Marine Regiment * "The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war" * God Bless you and Semper Fidelis	24 July 2008	CAF-0807
Capt. Bill Behrns Army Air Force (Ret.) Our apologies, our previously announced guest speaker for June, SR-71 pilot Bob Gilliland, had to be postponed until August. This month we will feature P-38 pilot Capt. Bill Behrns. Bill Behrns was born 1920 in French Camp on dairy farm Schooled in Stockton, attended Univ. of Pacific and UC Davis Worked briefly for Standard oil and the Benicia Arsenal Enter the Army Air Corps - graduated class 43F Combat and Gunnery Training at Muroc Assigned to the 459th Fighter Squadron formed in Olympia, WA Deployed with P-38s to the China-Burma-India theater Shot down once - the squadron lost 28 of its initial 32 pilots Awarded 3 DFCs, 3 air medals,, etc. Credited with 4+ victories	26 June 2008	CAF-0806
Colonel Joe Peterburs USAF Our postponed Guest Speaker, Me 262 pilot Jorg Cizpionka, is currently rescheduled for our August 28th Dinner Meeting. This month, May 22nd, we'll have P-51 pilot Joe Peterburs who shot down an Me 262!	22 May 2008	CAF-0805
COL John Roush Jorg Cizpionka had to cancel, due to unexpected surgery for his wife. He will be our speaker in May instead. John Roush attended San Francisco City College and was encouraged to join the Enlisted Reserve Corps in order to continue to study. He then enlisted and was sent to Santa Clara University in ASTP. Trained as an engineer he deployed to England and spent four miserable days on board a ship off of the Normandy coast awaiting orders to go ashore as a combat engineer. Shortly thereafter the Army gave a number of enlisted men a rapid course in becoming an officer and John was commissioned. He joined the 83rd "Cyclone" Division and ended up in Graz, Austria as its Provost Marshal. Returning to California after the war he remained in the reserves and retired as a Colonel. With training in engineering, infantry and intelligence, John held many interesting positions, including the Army attache' to Norway.	24 April 2008	CAF-0804
Primetta Giacopini Escapee from Mussolini Terror * Born June 9th, 1916 in Connecticut; Mother died when Primetta was 2 * Then traveled to Northern Italy in 1929 with foster parents to their original home town * Stayed in Italy until "caught" in the whirlwind of Mussolini's rise in power and impending war * Mussolini entered war June 10th, 1940; next day Questura arrived & ordered her to leave Italy - she understood them to be the Italian equivalent of the Gestapo * With no passport papers in her possession, she was designated a foreign alien. * She struggled for a year, trying to resolve the dilemma via the American Consulate & others * Money, frustrating delays & obstacles-- plus increasing dangers-- nearly defeated her. She feared she would end up in a concentration camp and die * Finally on June 5th, 1941, with great ingenuity and determination, she managed to leave by train * Her first true love, a fighter pilot for the King's Army in Italy, disappeared in action * Her odyssey of full escape, to finally reach Jersey City, NJ on June 24th, 1941, is dramatic	27 March 2008	CAF-0803
Corporal Don Cooley Army * 1943 assigned to the 423rd Regiment, 106th "Golden Lion" Infantry Division. * Two regiments of the division were surrounded during the Battle of the Bulge near St. Vith, Belgium. * Both regiments surrendered. Personnel were marched for a couple of days and then transported in cattle cars east of Leipzig. * Moved to Stalag 4B near Halle on December 30, 1944. * Worked as labored repairing bombed railroad lines. * Liberated April 13th, 1945 by the 104th Division and repatriated through Camp Lucky Strike in France.	28 February 2008	CAF-0802
COL Richard G. Candelaria USAF (Ret) Ace Fighter Pilot, 435th FS, 479th FG, ETO, 6 Confirmed Aerial Victories Autograph policy for the evening: * Must attend and pay for dinner (plus contribute the usual food or dessert) * Two (2) autographs per person * Any additional autographs, providing time permits, will be 2 autographs per $5	24 January 2008	CAF-0801
1st LT Burt Newmark USAAF WWII Combat Fighter Pilot, ETO * Earned Silver Wings at Moore Field, Mission, TX, Class 44C * Assigned to 84th FS, 78th FG at Duxford, England, flying P-47s then P-51s * Primarily task of fighter escort for B-17s, B-24s, then targets of opportunity during return * Flew 25 combat missions, first in P-47s, then transitioned to P-51s * On return leg of 25th mission, hit by a "silver bullet" from a flak car after destroying the locomotive * Barely survived the bail-out, then captured immediately on February 21, 1945 * POW in Stalag Luft 1; liberated by General Patton's 3rd Army late April 1945	15 November 2007	CAF-0711
2nd LT Fenn Wilson Marines Bombardier B17 534th bomb squadron, 381st bomb group, 8th air force * Attended USMC OCS Course at Parris Island and at Quantico - Commissioned Second Lieutenant * Ordered to San Diego where he joined the 5th JASCO (Joint Assault Signal Company) * Next sent to the Big Island of Hawaii where he joined Battalion B, 28th Regiment, 5th US Marine Division - trained six months. * Deployed to Iwo Jima and landed with his seven man team (Scout Sgt., Telephone Wireman, Radioman, etc.) with the 5th Wave at H + 25 minutes. * Spent 37 days on Iwo Jima - had four men wounded. * Returned to Hawaii after battle for replacements and then served six months in Japan as part of Occupation Forces.	25 October 2007	CAF-0710
Major Bob Bleier USAAF/USAF (Ret) * Flew forty-seven (47) combat missions in WWII, 22 as Lead Navigator * 780th BS(H); 465th BG(H); 15th Air Force * Operated primarily from Pantenella, Italy * 1st 25 missions with original crew * Completed 20 years in USSAF/USAF; retired at Travis AFB as an active navigator	27 September 2007	CAF-0709
Lieutenant Leo Bach Army Air Force Bombardier B17 534th bomb squadron, 381st bomb group, 8th air force * Enlisted in the Army in 1940, never finishing high school * Was a telephone linesman at Hickham Field in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was bombed * Volunteered for flight school and became a bombardier in a B17 in Europe * Shot down on 3rd mission * Spent 13 months in Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany.	23 August 2007	CAF-0708
CAPT Leon "Woodie" Spears USAF Original Tuskegee Airman and combat fighter pilot in WWII and KOREA. * Earned Silver Pilot Wings on 24 June 1944, Class 44F, Tuskegee, AL. * Flew P-40, P-39, P-47, P-51 and virtually all the key USA fighters of WWII. * Flew 51 combat missions in P-51s "Donna" and "Kitten", based in Ramitelli, Italy. * Hit by German 88 "flak" at 32,000 feet above Berlin, 24 March 1944, on 51st mission. * Became a POW of Germans, then worse with the Russians; fascinating journey to freedom!	26 July 2007	CAF-0707
Lieutenant Errol Mauchlan Royal Fleet Air Arm * Observor (Navigator) on both Swordfish and Barracuda aircraft. * Flew Swordfish bi-planes in 829 Squadron which became 810 Sqdn. in Eastern Fleet. * Hospitalized in Mombasa with typhus - returned England to join RAF Sqdn. 78 via Alexandria, Egypt as Naval laison officer to lay mines from Halifax bombers. * Assigned in Sept. '44 to 848 Sqdn. and began work up (training) in Barracudas on HMS Glory. * Took Japanese surrender at Saipan - HMS Glory converted to hospital ship to pick up POW's enroute back to England. * Returned to England via merchant ship.	28 June 2007	CAF-0706
Lt. Leonard Komor Air Transport Command Pilot flying "the Hump"	24 May 2007	CAF-0705
1st Sergeant Ralph Thomas Parachute Infantry Regiment (Ret.) 1st Sergeant, Company C, 1st Battalion, 508th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) in the 82nd Airborne Division. Jumped on D-Day into Normandy and also into Holland on Operation Market Garden ("A Bridge Too Far")	26 April 2007	CAF-0704
Sgt. Robert W. Davis Company B, 1st Battalion, 394th Regiment, 99th Inf * Drafted into the Army in January 1943 in Santa Barbara, trained as a baker and cook, medic, and then as an as an infantryman following ASTP at New Mexico State. * Assigned to B Company, 394th Regiment, 99th Division (1st Army) and deployed to Europe (ETO) in September 1944. * Following some brief patrolling during the time of the Battle of the Bulge (without having any major combat), Sgt. Davis's unit was overrun and captured from behind in the Ardennes Forest. He was sent to a number of POW camps, finally arriving and release in Moosberg by Company B of the 394th Regiment, now part of Pattons 3rd Army, on April 29, 1944. * Sent to Camp Lucky Strike and then back to the States via Trinidad.	22 March 2007	CAF-0703
SR SGT Eberhard P. Woertz LUFTWAFFE Me 109 Pilot & Observer, WWII Luftwaffe Tactical Reconnaissance * First, required to serve in Luftwaffe Communications; trained in highly-secret ENIGMA system * Luftwaffe Pilot Wings in late 1943; rated an Me 109 fighter pilot * Flew on Eastern Front against Russians; example: trapped by seven Yak fighter planes, yet escaped * Of 176,000 Luftwaffe pilots during WWII, only ~7,000 earned combination training as both pilot & observer for critical reconnaissance flying; Eberhard was one of these select few * Will also share his insights & experiences of growing up in Germany during the rise & supremacy of Hitler; also a general overview of wartime Germany Eberhard P. Woertz, WWII Luftwaffe Pilot, Engineering & Management Professional, USA since 1955	22 February 2007	CAF-0702
LT COL Robert C. Cozens USAAF & USAF Reserve (Ret.) * Enlisted in US Army Air Corps January 2, 1942 as an Aviation Cadet for Pilot Training * Earned Pilot Wings & 2nd LT Commission July 1942; original member of 95th BG(H), B-17s, arriving in England April 1943 * Based in Horham, England; flew 25 combat missions; rapidly promoted to Squadron Commander * Promoted to LT COL in 21 months after earning pilot wings; selected for Pentagon in April 1944 by General John Gerhart, reporting to General Craig, Head of Bombardment Section, USAAF * Among his 25 combat missions, Kiel, Regensburg, La Pallice, Schweinfurt and Munster stand out * Named his B-17 Flying Fortresses "Patsy Ann", for his wife * Among his military Awards & Decorations: Air Medal + 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Presidential Unit Citation, Commendation for Leadership and Devotion to Duty from Curtis E. LeMay	25 January 2007	CAF-0701
LT COL Howard J. Pierson USAF (Ret) * Left high school early to join US Navy; served aboard USS Iowa * After WWII & honorable discharge, completed high school & attended U. of Alabama on a football scholarship for the “Crimson Tide” * Air Force ROTC Commission 1951; Pilot Wings Class 52C, Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX * B-29 Superfortress Pilot in Korea; B-47 & B-52 (SAC) Pilot during Cold War * Four (4) years of combat tours in Vietnam & Southeast Asia as Command Pilot with USAF units, Vietnamese Air Force & Royal Thai Air Force * Last assignment in Southeast Asia was Commander of the “Nail” Forward Air Controllers (FACs), flying OV-10s. Last man to fly out of Cambodia, 15 August 1973 call sign “Nails 01” * Combat decorations & awards include 3 DFCs, 3 Bronze Stars, 39 Air Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, Airman Medal for Valor & Vietnamese Gallantry Cross * Founder of Top Gun & Formation – Leadership Enhancement & Communications Teamwork	16 November 2006	CAF-0611
Walter Tanaka and Lawson Sakai Walter Tanaka: MIS (Military Intelligence Service) in South Pacific and Korea, and Lawson Sakai: "E" Company, 2nd Bn. 442nd RCT	26 October 2006	CAF-0610
TSGT Adelbert W "Dell" Kenyon USAAF Ball-Turret Gunner & Flight Engineer, B-24 "Liberator" 723rd BS, 450th BG(H) "CottonTails", 15th AF, Manduria, Italy * Drafted into US Army, USAAF, January 1942 * Trained originally as Flight Engineer & Top Turret Gunner, but asked to take Ball Turret * Arrived at Mitchell Field, NY via train with crew to acquire their B-24 Liberator * March 1944 flew to combat theater via "Southern Route": West Palm Beach, Trinidad, Casablanca and, finally Manduria, Italy, their base of combat operations * Flew 30 combat missions; 1st target Toulon, France (shot at by another B-24 that had been captured by the Germans!); 4 missions over Ploesti, Romania; Vienna, Bucharest, ... * Fighter escorts by P-47s, P-38s, no P-51s; flak was the worst peril, although hit by fighters * 30th mission, on April 25th, '44, expected to be a "milk run", but shot down by FW-190 * POW at Stalag Luft 3 for 1 year and 5 days; liberated April 29th, '45 by Patton's 3rd Army * Decorations and awards include PH, AM(6), POW, Caterpillar Club, ETO	28 September 2006	CAF-0609
Jim Gray RAF Spitfire Combat Pilot with the first Eagle Squadron, RAF 71 Squadron * Flying Spitfires for the RAF, saw combat before Pearl Harbor & USA's entrance in WWII * Shot-down German Luftwaffe FW-190 fighter plane * After combat with 71 Sq., assigned in September 1942 to RAF 93 Squadron in North Africa * Many combat missions later, shot-down over Italy on his 26th birthday, January 4, 1945 * Prisioner of War (POW) in Stalag Luft 1; liberated by Allies at war's end * Among awards & decorations, received the prestigious British DFC	24 August 2006	CAF-0608
Benjamin Sieradzki WWII Polish Survivor of Lodz Ghetto and Auswitz * Born in 1927 in Zgierz, Poland * In 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, he and two older brothers left home, headed East * In 1940, Ben's family rounded up & sent to Lodz Ghetto along with 200,000 Jews * By August 1944 all those in Lodz Ghetto transported to Auswitz * Kapos, "selected" for labor camp in Stoeken, near Hannover, Germany * Allied bombers and fighter overhead by day, bombers again by night * Ahlem Labor Camp - abandonment by Kapos & SS guards * Finally, US Army 84th Division arrived and liberated all prisoners --FREEDOM! * After recovery in a German hospital, spent eight years in Sweden, then to America!	27 July 2006	CAF-0607
Petty Officer 1st Class LeRoy R. Engberg USN (Ret.) Veteran Combat Aerial Gunner, Aviation Ordnance Expert, WWII, KOREA & Vietnam * Enlisted in NAVY July 1941, after earlier time in National Guard * Trained as an "AO", Aviation Ordnance, but selected as aerial gunner on SBD and TBF * Left Long Beach, CA March 1942 aboard USS Lexington, enroute to Pacific War, but soon transfered to the USS Saratoga in VT-12 flying in SBDs and TBMs * First aerial combat in Battle of Santa Cruz, added to Bonis Islands, Solomons, Rabaul, ... * Shot-down two Japanese Zero fighter planes; completed fifty-four (54) combat missions * Bailed-out twice; first time picked up by a destroyer; second time by a British submarine after many days alone (ten to eighteen days--records lost) floating in tiny raft * Aircraft he flew-in included the SBD, TBF, SB2C, PBY, PBM * Retired from NAVY in 1969; received Navy Certificate for 30 years of active service * Served in WWII, KOREA and Vietnam and almost entirely on aircraft carriers * Elected in 2006 to the prestigious American Combat Airman Hall of Fame! Lee Engberg, Navy Combat Veteran of Three Wars, Patriot, Valued Member of GGW-CAF! Note: Lee last spoke to the GGW way back in October, 1993!	22 June 2006	CAF-0606
Master Sergeant Robert B. "Bob" Holland USMCR, WWII M.Sgt. Bob Holland was one of seven U. S. Marines attached to the U. S. Army 1st Cavalry Division during the recapture of Luzon, the Philippine Islands in WWII. From his Radio Jeep he directed air cover by 168 Marine Douglas “Dauntless” SBD Dive bombers for General MacArthur’s “Flying Column.” This remarkable military action rescued 3700 American Civilian Internees who had been prisoners of the Japanese for three and one-half years in Santo Tomas University Internment Camp in Manila. The Column of totally mechanized troops traveled 100 miles in three days through heavy enemy resistance by Japanese military that had been ordered to head from the valley to the hills. On February 3, 1945, the tank “Battlin’ Basic,” of the 44th Tank Batallion, broke down the main gate of Santo Tomas and the internees were rescued. He tells the story, day by day, of this major campaign. Bob will also present his excellent Power Point presentation of fifty-seven of these internees, their families and a few liberators, returning to the Philippines to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the rescue, on February 3, 2005, to be on the campus of Santo Tomas University on the exact day and time of the rescue sixty years before.	25 May 2006	CAF-0605
Bob Eustace US Navy Photographer Former NAVY combat photographer who flew in SBDs, TBFs, PBYs, etc. Most of his 2 1/2 years in the Pacific were flying of the CVE USS Suwannee escort carrier ("Taffy 3" in the Battle of the Philippines). He also has a marvelous power point presentation of over 100 official combat photos he personally took in action--each with a story of course.	27 April 2006	CAF-0604
1st LT Bill Anderson US ARMY Engineering Combat Platoon Leader, Omaha Beach, D-Day, 6 June 1944 146th Engineering Combat Battalion, 5th Corps, 1st Division ("Big RED ONE") Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 Patriot, Decorated Warrior, Academic, Humanitarian & outstanding representative of the "Greatest Generation"	23 March 2006	CAF-0603
Commander Harold G. "Swede" Carlson - Served two year sea duty aboard USS Nashville a light cruiser which escorted the USS Hornet when it was used to launch Doolittle's Raiders against Tokyo in 1942. - Earned Wings of Gold in April 1943 - Joined VC-11, a TBF/TBM squadron aboard the Nehenta Bay, a jeep carrier or baby flattop. - Aboard the USS Mt. McKinley, the Naval Air Staff Command ship for the Leyte invasion. - Commanded VU-1, the largest Naval Squadron at Ford Island and Barber's Point, Hawaii. - Commanded VA-195, the "Tigers", which on March 2, 1951 and subsequent dates attacked in AD-4 Skyraiders the Kilchu Bridge. James Michener's book, "Bridges at Toko-Ri", and the movie by the same title, is based, in large part, on the saga of "Carlson's Canyon." - His turret gunner Mr. Ghilotti, and radioman/belly gunner Mr. Larson, who made up the crew of his TBM aircraft will also be present. Come witness the reunion of this crew after 61 years!	23 February 2006	CAF-0602
CAPT Cole Black USN (Ret.) * Enlisted in Navy; aviation electronics technician, Petty Officer First Class. Selected for OCS, then flight training; earned Wings of Gold February 1957 * Pilot in Light Photographic Squadron 62, Cecil Field, 4 years * VF-211 @ NAS-Miramar, flying F8E Crusader jet ("Last Gunfighter") * Air Wing 21 aboard USS Hancock, CVA-19, to Vietnam * Flew many missions during initial strikes of Vietnam War & into his 2nd tour * Only 7 days before completing 2nd combat tour, shot down & captured * Spent 2,428 days, 18 hours, 35 minutes (nearly 7 years) as POW of Vietnam * Repatriated 12 February 1973 (566 military POWs), "Operation Homecoming" * After rehabilitation @ Balboa Hospital, San Diego, returned to active duty, flying high performance jet fighters @ NAS-Miramar, VF-126 * Numerous assignments, including Exec Officer of USS New Orleans, LPH-11; Exec Officer of NAS-Miramar (Master Jet Center) for 3 1/2 years, starting 1978; Naval Attache' to Mexico 1982-85; key staff assignment in DC to 7-86 * Retired July 1986 as CAPT after 36 years active duty service!	26 January 2006	CAF-0601
FLT SGT Len Harris RAF, 166 Squadron Air Gunner, AVRO Lancaster Bomber, ETO. * Volunteered for RAF at 17 - At 18 Accepted At Lord's Cricket Ground for Aircrew Training, * Became Aircrew Gunner & Began Combat Missions In Lancasters In 1944, * Completed 11 Missions to Germany, Including the Last Raid of WWII	17 November 2005	CAF-0511
Bert and Case Hanou Dutch Survivors of German Occupation * Bert: 3 years in Amsterdam under German Occupation, then Forced Laborer in Germany; liberated by Americans in 1945; joined American 9th Air Force as Interpreter; participated in disarmament of German Luftwaffe; sailed the oceans as Purser with immigrants to Canada, South Africa & the Far East, transporting American students to Europe for the Marshall Plan. * Case: Born in Netherlands on Walcheren Island; lost all belongings first week of May 1940 by German bombardments; lived under German occupation 4 years while active in Dutch resistance. Liberated by Allied Forces November 1944; joined British Army of the Rhine as Interpreter/Secretary for Town Mayors (Civil Affairs) in Holland, Belgium and North France; volunteered for British Grave Registration to help establish fate of air crews missing in action; member of AFEES (AirForces Escape & Evasion Society); honorary member of the 8th Air Force; sailed the oceanson same ship ("Oranje") as Bert, where they met.	27 October 2005	N/A
Sgt. Terry Santos Lead Scout, 11th Airborne Division Recon Platoon Served in United States Military 1942-1945. Graduate of ASTC, 4th Class. O.S.S. Sp. Warfare - Jump Qualified. Graduate of Alamo Scouts Training Center. Requalified for jump status in 1944. Made two combat jumps and Amphibious Assault.	22 September 2005	CAF-0509
CAPT Duncan A. "Duke" Campbell USN (RET) Combat Pilot & Commander * Stationed in Honolulu Flying PBY "Catalina" in Fall 1939--War Clouds * Transferred To Manila, Midway, Guam, etc. VP-101, Patrol Wing Ten * Stationed @ Cavite, Philippines (near Manila Bay) On "War Alert" & Airborne On Patrol When Japanese Attacked 8 December 1941 * Witnessed the First Wave Of Attacking Japanese Aircraft * Intense Combat Flying In Pacific Throughout First 4 Months Of WWII, During the Pivotal Period Winston Churchill Described As the "Hinge Of Fate" * Transferred To Norfolk, VA for Test Flying Martin PBM Flying Boats	25 August 2005	CAF-0508
Hubertus "Hubert" Von Marschall * In April 1941 wolunteered for the army and was assigned ot the Nachrichten Ersatz Abeilung No. 13 in Honnover. * By beginning of the offensive to Stalingrad first with the 6th armny over the Don River and transferred to the 4th and 11th panzer armee rolling down the caucasus foothills. * In august 1942 in Maikop promoted to corporal and sent back to Germany to home unit in Dresden-Uebigau, there volunteered to the infantry due to the enormous losses of officers in that brance. * In sept 1943 ordered to Herresgruppe Mitte and sent to the 256th Grenadier Division, 456th Rgt. there wounded on the 2nd day of combat and southwest of Rschew as leader of a company. * From Sept 1943 to March 1944 spent several military hospitals in Russia and Germany (Heidelberg one of them). * August 1944 able for combat - leading company with 5 platoons and 200 soldiers as reserve to the front in Poland. * In December 1944 commanding Sturmgeschuetz-Begleitschutz No. 214 (self propelled assult guns). * In January 1945 transfered to the Nacy headquarters in Glueckstadt/Elbe of the 2nd Navy INfantery Division. * In April 1945 the division was ordered to defend the so called Wesere/Aller Linie and on Aprill 22nd he was TAKEN PRISIONER by the Ox and Bucks near Bremen and spent half a year in Belguim (Camp Jabecke).	28 July 2005	CAF-0507
LT COL Jesse "Jay" Craddock USAAF/USAF (RET) * Started Flight School, USAAF, June 1942; Received Pilot Wings at Mather Field, CA, Class 43-A * Assigned As Instructor Pilot: AT-6s, B-25s; Held In Training Command For 18 months! * Had Over 1,000 Flight Hours In B-25s When Finally Reached Combat 12-44 * 447th BS, 321st BG, MTO, Based On Corsica * Completed 47 Combat Missions, Primarily Against Brenner Pass Targets * Heavy Flak: In January 1944 All 16 B-25s In Squadron Replaced Due To Flak * Flew His Own B-25 and Crew Back To USA In July 1945	23 June 2005	CAF-0506
LT COL Charles F. Shallenberger USAF (R) P-38 Fighter Pilot, Southwest Pacific, WWII * Joined USAAF 1 September 1942 After 2 Years College (Engineering) * Received Pilot Wings 7 January 1944, Class 44-A, Williams Field, AZ, P-38s * Assigned to 44th FS ("Vampires"), 18th FG, 13th AF, Southwest Pacific * Flew 314 Combat Hours On 98 Combat Missions: Solomons, New Guinea, Philippines, ... * Helped Pioneer Extended Range Flights of P-38s to Over 2,000 Miles * Awarded DFC, 4 AMs, Air Force Commendation Medal	26 May 2005	CAF-0505
CPL Robert L. "Bob" George USMC, WWII * Machine Gunner, A-1-10, 2nd MARINE Division (A Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Regiment, 2nd Division) * Fought & Survived Four(4) Major Battles In 33 Months--the Longest, Hardest Part of WWII: GUADALCANAL, TARAWA, SAIPAN & TINIAN * Shipped Overseas January 6th, 1941, 30 Days After Pearl Harbor Attack * Authored Book Too Young To Vote-- TARAWA, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian * From American Samoa To GUADALCANAL ( Solomon Is.) November 1942; TARAWA (Gilbert Is); SAIPAN (Marianas Is.) May 1943; TINIAN (Marianas Is.) June 1944. In Addition, Enroute To SAIPAN, Bob Was "Caught" In the Tragic "Pearl Harbor II" Disaster!	28 April 2005	CAF-0504
1st LT Charles J. "CJ" Cook USAAF B-17 Pilot & Commander - * 94th BG (H), 334th BS, Based at Bury St.Edmonds, ~100 Mi N. of London, * 1st B-17 Named "Lady Luck"; 2nd & Last B-17 Named "Victory Gal", * Flew 35 Combat Missions; Hit By Flak & Fighters Many Times, * Shot Down Twice, But Never Captured; Returned To England Both Times, * Many "Close-Calls" Due to Germans, Weather & Overloads of Bombs & Fuel, * Lucky Crew: All Ten Crewmembers Survived Their 35 Missions Together!	24 March 2005	CAF-0503
LT GEN John F. Gonge USAF (RET) * Flew the "Hump" In China-Burma-India Campaigns (CBI) During WWII — * Career Transport Pilot, Remaining With Airlift Forces Through Air Training Command, Military Air Transport Service and Military Airlift Command — * Military Decorations Include: DSM, DFC, AM, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, AF Commendation Medal with OLC, and many others — * Retired 1 September 1977 With Over 35 Years Active Duty, Over 13,000 Flying Hours Logged, and a Three-Star GENERAL (LT GEN)	24 February 2005	CAF-0502
MAJ Phil DeGroot MARINE CORPS Fighter Pilot, WWII & KOREA - * Assigned to One of First VMF Squadrons to Fly F4U-1 Corsairs, * Assigned to Gillespie Field, San Diego, Becoming XO and CO, * After WWII, Joined Reserves, VMF141, Oakland, Flying F6F Hellcats, * KOREAN War Started, Called-Up With VMF323 Flying Corsairs, * Severely Wounded On Low-Level Attack; Successful, Risky Forced Landing, * While at El Toro MCAS, Flew Most of Aircraft Scenes for Movie "The Flying Leathernecks", * Flew 2000 Flight Hours as a Fighter Pilot in Two Wars	27 January 2005	CAF-0501
CMDR Bill Ambrosio USN (RET) * Assigned To VF-27, Flying F4F Wildcat Fighters, Aboard USS Suwannee, * Participated in Operation Torch, Invasion Of North Africa, * Flew combat at Guadalcanal-Henderson Field, January-April 1943, * Rotated To USA; Reassigned To VF-18 On USS Bunker Hill, F6F Hellcats, * Flew Combat In Pacific, Aboard USS Bunker Hill, October '43--June '44	18 November 2004	CAF-0411
MAJ Jim Dumas USAAF/USAF * Served Under GEN Claire Chennault, Famed Leader of the AVG, P-40s * Flew 69 Combat Missions In China-Burma-India Theater of Operations * Has Over 2,000 Flight Hours, Primarily In Fighters: P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, F-80 and even A B-17	28 October 2004	CAF-0410
CMDR Robert F. "Rob" Kanze USN (RET.) * Earned Naval Aviator Wings in Summer of 1941 via Naval Aviator Program * Flew with VF-2 off USS LEXINGTON in Battle of the Coral Sea * Flew with VF-10 off USS ENTERPRISE in Battle of Santa Cruz * Shot-down by Japanese ground fire over Truk Lagoon; rescued by famous Submarine USS TANG and its Skipper LCDR Richard H. O'Kane * Splashed three Japanese aircraft June 1944 * Assigned to Patuxent Naval Air Test Center as Test Pilot	24 September 2004	CAF-0409
SR LT Ken Rowe North Korean Air Force Fighter Pilot, Escaped Communism by Flying His MiG-15 to Kimpo AFB, Korea.	26 August 2004	CAF-0408
Takashi Tanemori * Was at "Ground Zero" in Hiroshima on 8-6-1945, * The Only Family Survivor of the Atomic Bomb Explosion	22 July 2004	CAF-0407
1st LT Harry Moore USAAF * Pilot Wings, Class 43-B, Roswell, NM * Flew 67 Combat Missions, ETO, From ENGLAND During 14 Months * 556th BS, 384th BG, 8th AF * Flew Mission Over Normandy Beaches, D-DAY June 6th, 1944 (60 Years Ago!)	24 June 2004	CAF-0406
Marauder Men Kappeler and Merrill LTCOL Frank Kappeler, USAF (RET) Navigator on Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, B-26 Navigator, 323rd BG, 8th AF and 1st LT John O. "Jake" Merrill, USAAF B-26 Pilot, 387th BG, 9th AF. Last dinner meeting at WAM.	27 May 2004	CAF-0405
Gathering of B-24 "LIBERATOR" Bomber Crewmembers Gathering of B-24 "LIBERATOR" Bomber Crewmembers: B-24 Co-Pilot James "Bob" Ware, B-24 Co-Pilot Owen Sullivan, B-24 Tail Gunner Denis Pontefract, B-24 Bombardier Peter Jansen.	22 April 2004	CAF-0404
Two Pearl Harbor Survivors Both are eye-witnesses of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941. SR CHIEF QM Mickey Ganitch, US NAVY (RET) and LT CMDR Marv Recknor, US NAVY (RET).	25 March 2004	CAF-0403
CAPT Turner Brashear USAAF * Earned Pilot Wings at Douglas, AZ, Class 43-F, * Flew With the 535th BS(H), 381st BG(H), 8th AF, Ridgewell, ENGLAND, * Flew B-17s, With Most of His Missions in B-17 Named "RAFAF", * Flew 27 Combat Missions, ETO, * Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and 5 Air Medals (AM), * "Mission to Munich"; Mid-Air Collision Over Target (DFC for His Actions), * Signatory on New Robert Taylor Lithograph, "Thunderheads Over Ridgewell"	26 February 2004	CAF-0402
Brian Shul USAF * 212 Combat Missions, VietNam Theater; Associated With AIR AMERICA, * Shot Down Near Cambodian Border; Unable to Eject; Crash Landed in Jungle; Badly Burned & Near Death; Rescued by Special Forces, * After Numerous Assignments, Volunteered & Qualified (Astronaut-type) for SR-71.	22 January 2004	N/A
CAPT Cal Rose USAF * WWII B-25 command pilot * 56 combat missions MTO/ETO * 310th bomb squadron 380th bomb group 12th air force	20 November 2003	CAF-0311
MSGT Philip K. Kurokawa US ARMY Reserve (RET) * As an American in Japan, Often Stopped by Police to Show Identification * Both Parents Were University Professors of English * Before Family Could Leave Japan, Pearl Harbor was Attacked (Phil was 10) * Both Parents Lost Jobs; Very Hard Times for His Family, Trapped in Japan	23 October 2003	CAF-0310
CWO Ray A. McNaught US NAVY (RET) * WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM, * NAVY Diver: Experimental/Research (with "Swede" Momson), Salvage, Combat Diving in Pacific, * Pearl Harbor II: The Secret Tragedy, * Witnessed H-Bomb Test in Bikini, Aboard USS McKinley with Bob Considine and Other VIPs	25 September 2003	CAF-0309
Lt Col Frank A. Kappeler USAF (RET) * Doolittle Raider, Navigator, Crew #11 (18 April 1942). * Stayed in CBI Theater after RAID until August 1942, flying the "Hump". * Served in ETO from November 1943 to June 1944, B-26 Bomb Group.	28 August 2003	CAF-0308
Major Maynard "Dick" Stewart USAF (RET) * WWII B-17 Waist Gunner, 95th BG(H), ETO, Horham, England. * Downed by Enemy Fire Over Railroad Yards, Hanover, Germany. * Pilot Successfully Limped B-17 Across Germany; Crash-Landed in Belgium.	24 July 2003	CAF-0307
CDR Ted Crosby USN (RET) Fighter ACE, ACE-in-a Day, flying the F6F "Hellcat". Ted has spoken once before to the GGW, but it was about five (5) years ago,and we have many new members who have never heard him--plus, he has MANY more experiences to share!!	26 June 2003	CAF-0306
Adolfo "Al" Celaya USN Sailor * Crewmember of the famous Cruiser USS Indianapolis, * Bombardment of Iwo Jima--witnessed flag-raising at Mt. Suribachi, * Bombardment of Okinawa--witnessed and survived direct kamikaze hit, * Sprinted from Mare Island to Tinian, Marianas to deliver the Atomic Bomb, * Torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 night of 29-30 July 1945	22 May 2003	CAF-0305
J. Paul McCann * V12 Program July 1944/45, * Wings of Gold, Naval Aviator, (Friday) June 13, 1947, Flew Fighters & Multi-Engine, including the PBY Catalina, * Air group 15 NAS Alameda, 1947~49, * He tells about his treetop-level tour of Yosemite Valley & scaling Half Dome - in a Bearcat!, * Many other Rare Experiences in the F8F!	24 April 2003	CAF-0304
COL Grif Mumford USAF (ret) * Entered USAAF September 1940 as a Flying Cadet * Original Member of the Famous 95th Bomb Group(H), ETO * Command Pilot, B-17s, B-24s * Leader of the First Daylight Bombing Raid Over BERLIN! * Served 30 Years in USAAF/USAF	27 March 2003	CAF-0303
COL Ralph Parr USAF (RET) * Ace in Korea with ten victories, * two tours in Vietnam, * Awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross.	27 February 2003	CAF-0302
CAPT Ken Beer USAAF Pilot Wrote first book on Instrument Flying, now in Smithsonian, Washington, DC. Barnstormer & US Mail Pilot. Over 70,000 flight hours logged!	23 January 2003	CAF-0301
Chief Petty Officer Tom H. Flowers USN (RET) Assigned to VP-12, a PBY "Catalina" Squadron. Flew throughout Pacific, including operations from Midway, Guadalcanal. Flew 100 missions during Berlin Airlift in R5D.	21 November 2002	CAF-0211
CAPT Ray Edinger US Navy (Ret.) WWII and Korean Vet, In 1947 he flew one of the first remote control aircraft, Flew a total of 16,000 sorties and 60 missions, Flew TBM Torpedo Bombers, SBD Douglas Dive Bombers, F8N Bearcats, F4U Corsairs, and Bell Helicopters.	24 October 2002	CAF-0210
SSGT Al Freitas USAAF, WWII B-17 Ball-Turret Gunner (Originally trained as Radio Operator), 100th Bombardment Group (The "Bloody 100th") 350th Bomb Squadron, 23 Combat Missions, ETO, Shot-Down on 23rd Mission, POW in German Stalag.	26 September 2002	CAF-0209
Col. Joseph F. "Joe" Cotton USAF Cotton spoke on Sept 2001 about his experience in WWII. This time, Cotton spoke about his experience in the sixties as Air Force chief test pilot. He flew the first flight of the XB-70 at Edwards Air Force Base. He flew the XB-70A No. 2 at Mach 3.08 at 72,800 feet April 12, 1966.	22 August 2002	CAF-0208
CAPT M. Herschel "Herk" Higgins USAAF B-17 Pilot, ETO, with the "Mighty Eighth", 351st Bombardment Group, 508th Bombardment Squadron, Shot down October 14th, 1943 on the Schweinfurt Raid II, "Black Thursday"!	25 July 2002	CAF-0207
COL John Lowery USAF (Ret.) Combat Jet Fighter Pilot, KOREA: 334th FIS, 4th FIW; 43 Missions, F-86 Sabre, 5000 Hours in Fighters; 13, 500 Hours Total Time	27 June 2002	CAF-0206
Kenneth T. Brown USAAF, WWII Lead Navigator, B-26 "Marauder" Medium Bomber, Ninth Air Force, 391st Bombardment Group, 572nd Bombardment Squadron, ETO	23 May 2002	CAF-0205
CDR Ralph E. Foltz USN (RET.) ACE Fighter Pilot, F6F "Hellcat", WWII, Became an ACE, 13 November 1944 over Manila Bay	25 April 2002	CAF-0204
CAPT Abel Dolim B-17 Navigator, 94th BG, 332nd BS, ETO. Eye-Witness to the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor!	28 March 2002	CAF-0203
Charles W. "Chuck" Tatum USMC, Bronze Star recipient. In the first assault-wave at Iwo Jima. Fought alongside his hero, SGT. John Basilone.	28 February 2002	CAF-0202
COL. Jim Morehead USAF (Ret.) ACE Fighter Pilot, WWII, Pacific Theater: P-40 Ace, 7 Japanese aircraft ( Betty bombers, Zero fighters), Mediterranean Theater: P-38s, 1 German aircraft ( Me-109 on D-Day near Ploesti).	24 January 2002	CAF-0201
CAPT John Shannon USAF (Ret.) Fighter Pilot, Korean War. 100 Combat Missions over Korea, Flying the F-80 "Shooting Star", 26th F.S. 23rd F.S. in Germany Flying the F-84 "Thunderjet"	15 November 2001	CAF-0111
SGT Andy Doty USAAF (Ret.) Tail Gunner, B-29 Superfortress, "The City of College Park" 93rd SQ., 314th WING, 19th BOMB GROUP, 20th AIR FORCE 21 Missions Over JAPAN, one of which cost the lives of three crewmembers. Andy wrote a terrific book entitled Backwards into Battle, A Tail Gunner's Journey in World War II. Click here for more information! Andy's 19th Bomb Group is the one that will be inducted into the CAF's American Combat Airman Hall of Fame on October 5th 2001.	25 October 2001	CAF-0110
Col. Joseph F. "Joe" Cotton USAF Fighter Pilot and Bomber Pilot of B-17 "Mickey Finn". Subject of book "Aircraft Down", by Dr. Philip Caine, about B-17 "Mickey Finn" shot down over Greek Island of Corfu and their successful 5-month evasion and escape!	27 September 2001	CAF-0109
John Fulton John is a high-visibility member of the GGW (including Col of the Month, Flying Sponsor of the SNJ, T-33, MiG-17) and a versatile aviator. John shares some of his experiences of how he managed to accumulate his high number of flight hours in so many different aircraft types. Plus some highlights of his dramatic experiences recently in Russia flying the high-performance MiG-29 air-superiority fighter!	23 August 2001	CAF-0108
Col. Harry M. Conley USAAF (Ret.) Original Member of the 95th Bomb Group ( first to bomb Berlin in daylight!). Command Pilot, B-17s and B-24s. Over 75 Missions, including four (4) on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Chief of Staff to GEN John Gerhart, first Commander of the new 93rd Bomb Wing. Flew many Fighters: P-47s, P-51s, P-38s, DeHavilland Mosquitos (as the "Mission Command Center" over the targets).	26 July 2001	CAF-0107
Art Aronsen B-29 Superfortress Crewmember/Weather Officer, 20th AirForce(GEN Curtis LeMay), 19th Bomb Group, 28th Squadron, DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). Flew 28 Combat Missions: Japan, China, Korea	28 June 2001	CAF-0106
Robert F. "Bob" Reynolds Flight Lieutenant, Aircraft Commander 101 Squadron, RAF WW II Flew Lancaster Bombers, Night Ops.	21 May 2001	CAF-0105
Bob Tharratt B-17 Flight Engineer, and Top Turret Gunner, DFC ETO	26 April 2001	CAF-0104
Hap Halloran B-29 Navigator shot down over Japan, interned in a Japanese POW camp	22 March 2001	CAF-0103
Alex Vraciu Lt. in the US Navy flying Grumman F6F Hellcats with VF-6. Navy's fourth-ranking ace with 19 aerial victories	22 February 2001	CAF-0102
Art Hansen F6F Hellcat Pilot assigned to Night Fighter duty with VF(N)-41, on Carriers Independence, Enterprise, and then Lexington	25 January 2001	CAF-0101
Denis Pontefract and Paul FitzGerald RAF/USAAF Denis Pontefract talks about his experiences during the war as tail gunner in a B-24 in the RAF. Most of his time was spent between assignments with a bunch of fun stories. Paul Fitzgerald relays some of his WWII experiences as well as some post war 'Col Fitz' escapades.	16 November 2000	CAF-0011
Wally Dean Flew the Pan Am flying boats, He went from Bow boy to Clipper Pilot	26 October 2000	CAF-0010
Robert Tyldesley P-61 Black Widow Pilot, 547th and 418th Night Fighter Squadron, Philippines	28 September 2000	CAF-0009
1st LT George Lymburn B-24 pilot in the 445th Bomb Group, POW after Berlin Raid	24 August 2000	CAF-0008
COL. Gail "Hal" Halvorsen USAF, WWII Pilot, "Candy Bomber" of the Berlin Airlift	27 July 2000	CAF-0007
Herb Ross P-38 Fighter Ace, Flew in North Africa as a member of the 14th Fighter Group	22 June 2000	CAF-0006
Ralph Weidling SBD Tail Gunner At Midway and Santa Cruz	27 May 2000	CAF-0005
Joe Shriber USAF. A member of the Air Forces whose mission was to attack (SAM) air defense radars. Joe tells about his becoming an F4 'Wild Weasel' pilot and developing tactics to locate SAM sites and destroy them before they had a chance to destroy our fighters & bombers in Vietnam. Very dangerous work, low flying & great stories!	27 April 2000	CAF-0004
George E. Cooper USAAF ETO P-47 Fighter Pilot, Research & Test Pilot. George Cooper had a long and interesting flying career. During WW II, he shot down 4 German planes. After leaving the Army he became a test pilot at NACA, later NASA, at Moffett, CA testing a variety of cutting edge theories & procedures. Currently, George owns & runs a vineyard in the Silicone Valley.	23 March 2000	CAF-0003
Robert Carney Arnhem Missions and Horsa Glider Pilot on D-Day	24 February 2000	CAF-0002
BC Thomas Most hours in the SR-71	27 January 2000	CAF-0001
Stu Eberhardt Racing P-51 at Reno Air Show	18 November 1999	CAF-9911
Eberhard Woerz Me-109, Luftwaffe Tactical Reconnaissance Pilot. A tactical reconnaissance pilot for the Luftwaffe, Woerz also served as a communications officer with Enigma machines. He spoke mostly about the Eastern Front and surviving Soviet advances.	28 October 1999	CAF-9910
Richard Reyes D-Day, 82nd Airborne, Paratrooper near St. Mere Eglise. Reyes fondly recalls his training as an 82nd Airborne Army paratrooper and the huge aerial assault of Normandy on June 5th, 1944. Each jumper carried 150 lbs of gear through the C-47 door.	23 September 1999	CAF-9909
Sylvia Barter, Betty Budde and Nancy Foran Women Air Force Service Pilots	26 August 1999	CAF-9908
CAPT Leon "Woodie" Spears USAF Original Tuskegee Airman, Combat Fighter Pilot, WWII & KOREA * Earned Silver Pilot Wings on 24 June 1944, Class 44F, Tuskegee, AL. * Flew P-40, P-39, P-47, P-51 and virtually all the key USA fighters of WWII. * Advanced training in high-performance fighters, then sent to Italy with 301st FS, 332nd FG. * Flew 51 combat missions in P-51s "Donna" and "Kitten", based in Ramitelli, Italy. * Hit by German 88 "flak" at 32,000 feet above Berlin, 24 March 1944, on 51st mission. * Superior airmanship & training enabled a successful forced landing in Poland. * Became a POW of Germans, then worse with the Russians; fascinating journey to freedom! * 51 Combat Missions in WWII * 17 Combat Missions in KOREA	25 June 1999	CAF-9906
Dick Best Dauntless SBD Pilot. A dive-bomber pilot on the carrier Enterprise, Best led the attack on the IJN carrier Akagi in the Battle of Midway. Best recounts, one of his bombs is crippling Akagi's steering.	27 May 1999	CAF-9905
Raleigh E. "Dusty" Rhodes Battle of Santa Cruz F-4F Wildcat Pilot, POW, and Post War Blue Angle	22 April 1999	CAF-9904
Douglas Moore MTO B-17 Pilot, 301st Bomb Group, 32nd Squadron	25 March 1999	CAF-9903
Dwight DeHaven A Sailor's Experience Aboard The USS Yorktown and USS England	25 February 1999	CAF-9902
2nd Lt. Robert W. Harrington ETO B-24 Pilot, 446th Bomb Group. The irony of it all. "I went on the 106th mission of the 466th, which was a milk run of seven and a half hours, and it only took me eight months to walk home. "The 466th Bomb Group flew 341 missions during WWII, 5062 sorties, 12,914 tons of bombs dropped and 71 planes lost. And for 466th pilot Bob Harrington, the war would change dramatically on the unit's 106th mission. On August 15th, 1944, the B-24s of the 466th BG were on a mission to bomb airfields in northern Germany. The Group got to the target, successfully hit the airfield, but the Luftwaffe retaliated with a vengeance. The B-24 was on fire and in a flat spiral, "so I pushed the bail-out button, and it's only two and a half steps from the pilot seat to stand on the flight deck and jump up through the bomb bay door of the B-24. After 242 days of evading the occupying German troops, Harrington was liberated by the 2nd Armored Division, 2nd Canadian Army. Harrington is President of the James H. Doolittle Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society. There are about 700 members in Northern California.	28 January 1999	CAF-9901
Bud Anderson P-51 Triple Ace	22 October 1998	CAF-9810
Joe Marlovicts B-17 Co-Pilot, 306th Bomb Group, 368th Bomber Squadron	24 September 1998	CAF-9809
Commander Ted Crosby F6F-3 Hellcat Ace	27 August 1998	CAF-9808
Capt. Theodore "Dutch" Van Kirk Navigator of B-29 "Enola Gay"	23 July 1998	CAF-9807
1LT Owen Sullivan Shot down over Czech., with partisans for six months	25 June 1998	CAF-9806
Art Perry Commanded PBY Catalinas for US Coast Guard During WWII	28 May 1998	CAF-9805
Mort Magoffin P-47 Pilot 362nd Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force	23 April 1998	CAF-9804
Bob Burnett S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien, History and Restoration Project	26 March 1998	CAF-9803
Jack Hildebrandt A Luftwaffe bomber and fighter pilot, talks about enlisting & training in the German Air Force, and several missions. Jack lost a total of six aircraft, making him an 'American Ace'. In this unique profile, we get a different perspective of the war and understand first-hand the effects of the allied bombing on Germany.	26 February 1998	CAF-9802
Lloyd Childer TBD Gunner at Midway	22 January 1998	CAF-9801
Willi Kreissmann Luftwaffe Pilot: Air War in Russia & the Arado Bomber	20 November 1997	N/A
Bob Swan First Pilot and Navigator on PBY-5 Catalinas, Spotted Yamamoto's Fleet Steaming for Midway	23 October 1997	CAF-9710
Chuck Tatum First wave U.S. Marine combatant at Iwo Jima	25 September 1997	CAF-9709
Urban Drew Two Me262 victories from a P-51	28 August 1997	CAF-9708
Bill Chapin USAAF. Bill Chapin shares his WWII experiences piloting a B-24 Liberator in combat and his final eventful mission. Bill also talks about life in a German POW hospital. Very interesting memories with a slightly different twist.	24 July 1997	CAF-9707
Mozart Kaufman ETO P-39, P-47 Pilot, & POW	26 June 1997	CAF-9706
JP Sheehan Navy Pilot in A-3D Sky Warriors	22 May 1997	CAF-9705
Wally Dean Aviation's Golden Age, and Pan Am's Clippers	24 April 1997	CAF-9704
Lt. Col. Frank Blesby Holmes P-36, Pearl Harbor, P-40	27 March 1997	CAF-9703
Diz Laird The only World War II Navy ace to shoot down both Japanese and German aircraft	27 February 1997	N/A
Tim Crowley ETO B-17 Pilot - "To Russia and Back"	28 November 1996	N/A
Gen. John Kinney Defense of Wake Island, his capture by the Japanese and escape from prisoner train in China 4 years later	24 October 1996	N/A
Damon Rarey Laughter & Tears, A Combat Pilot's Sketchbook of WWII Squadron Life	25 July 1996	N/A
Hap Halloran B-29 Prisoner of war	22 February 1996	CAF-9602
Dick Shaw B-29 Pilot	27 July 1995	CAF-9507
Frank Sutton PBM and PV-1	26 January 1995	CAF-9501

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