Summer 2012 Newsletter

COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE RED TAIL SQUADRON
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Coordinator’s Corner By Bradford Lang
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Greetings!
We’ve had an exciting 2012 season so far and we’re not even halfway done!
SUM
The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and P-51C Mustang have been enjoying great
success on the road. The lines to see the Traveling Exhibit and the airplane have
been long. The Lakeland (FL) Sun N’ Fun Fly In was no exception. In addition,
Squadron pilots Doug Rozendaal and Paul Stojkov flew several times during the event.
Doug was able to organize a two-ship flight with Kermit Week’s beautiful P-51C,
“INA The Macon Belle.” This was a rare opportunity to have the only two Tuskegee-related
P-51C models in the world flying together.
M
ER
Another rare opportunity arose after that show when Dr. A.J. Brickler and I escorted the CAF’s B-29
“FiFi” to Tallahassee for another event. While flying the Mustang, I glanced outside several times to see
the B-29’s image framed by huge, white cumulus clouds. Dr. Brickler and I could only imagine what
it was like for those who flew Mustangs on dangerous escort missions in the South Pacific, protecting
B-29s. Dr. Brickler is an avid aviation fan and Cirrus pilot who was able to find enough community support in Tallahassee to sponsor the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit along with the Mustang while “FiFi” was
there. Terry and Jeanette Hollis, our excellent docent/drive team, were able to park the Traveling Exhibit
on the ramp close by “FiFi” and the Mustang for most of the event, which kept the people coming. As
is happening more and more, local TV media were there to document the occasion.
One of the most important stops we made this year was in Tuskegee, Alabama - the Tuskegee Airmen’s
training grounds. Sylvester Williams, manager of Golden Eagle Aviation, was kind enough to host both
the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the P-51C Mustang. The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site,
which was renovated and is run by the National Park Service, is located within 300 yards of the Golden
Eagle FBO at Moton Field Municipal Airport.
Moton Field was built from scratch in 1941 and named after the Tuskegee Institute’s second president,
Robert Moton. It was a training facility for cadets and at that time was known as the Tuskegee Army
Primary Flying Field. This was where my father flew the PT-13D. It was a great feeling to introduce the
local community to the CAF Red Tail Squadron. As I left Moton Field in the red-tailed Mustang, taking it
to the next air show, I could not help but reflect on the training he received there in 1945.
This past February, Delta Air Lines and the CAF Red Tail Squadron hosted a dinner event in Atlanta
honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. More than 230 people were invited. Building on the synergy from
that event, we recently joined up with Delta at the Robins Air Force
Base 2012 Air Show in Warner Robins, Georgia. Delta Air Lines’
Chief Line Check pilot (757/767), Capt. Robert Buehler, called and
asked if we could work together in a way that was similar to the
Atlanta event. However this time Delta would have their 757 parked
next to our RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the red-tailed P-51C
Mustang, instead of in a separate hangar.
(Continued on page 7)
Keep Your Speed Up!
20 1 2
In this issue:
Coordinator’s Corner
Maximum Lift - Steve
Brown, CAF CEO
Tuskegee Visit
Lawrence “Bubba”
Brown memoriam
2012 Tour so far
All copy by Robyn
Feld, Squadron
Creative Writer
“Our objective is to
carry the lessons
and legacy of the
Tuskegee Airmen
into every classroom
in America!”
Don Hinz
Bradford Lang
Squadron Leader
Copyright ©2012
Commemorative Air Force
Red Tail Squadron™
www.redtail.org
The 2012 Tour SEASON So Far
The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the Mustang have been “on a mission” – literally and figuratively - since mid-February. They
started the season at a private event at Delta Air Lines headquarters in Atlanta and went on to Mississippi and Oklahoma before
spending the last half of March and first part of April in Florida. After that, they went to North Carolina (twice), Tuskegee (more on that
historic visit on (page 7) and Georgia before heading up the East Coast in May.
Those planning the events where the Traveling Exhibit and Mustang will appear get just as excited about the Squadron’s two unique
educational tools as those who actually come to see Mustang and the “RISE ABOVE” movie in the Traveling Exhibit. The planners
especially enjoy working with area school districts to bring the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to a local school. The Traveling Exhibit
has performed beautifully on and off-tarmac and literally thousands of young people who wouldn’t be able to attend an air show have
learned about the Tuskegee Airmen by viewing the “RISE ABOVE” movie. They leave their classroom, walk out the school door, up a
few steps and take their seats on bleachers to view the movie in climate-controlled comfort.
To see when the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the Mustang will be in a town near you in 2012, go to our website –
www.redtail.org - and click on “Events Calendar” at the top.
Children from Lake Simpson Park Community Center
show off their dog tags.
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Students from Columbus, MS visiting the Exhibit.
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Doug, I am not sure that I am addressing this to the right folks,
but I wanted to start somewhere. I had the pleasure of working
side by side with Terry and Jeanette Hollis, the Drive Team and
Tour Manager for the Red Tail Tour. My EAA Chapter helped
sponsor their visit to Salisbury, NC over the past weekend. You
could not have chosen a more dedicated couple than these two
to spread the word of Rise Above. They are surely fine Ambassadors for your squadron.
Having been a columnist for 25 years with the Southern Aviator
Magazine and writer with Ben Sclair and GA News, and 25 years
of helping with writing stories and photo shoots for the Sun ‘N
Fun Today Newspaper I have seen more than my share of traveling aviation shows and not one could stand up to the hard work
and zeal these two contribute to the program. Well done. I am
looking forward to seeing all you guys in Lakeland next month.
A group in Charolotte, N.C. poses by the Mustang.
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Regards and Travel Safe,
Jack E. Neubacher/President EAA Chapter 1083
For the most current air show schedule information visit www.redtail.org/eventscalendar
2
Photos Out & About
L to R Charles Holiday, Daniel Keel, Hiram Mann
Daisy Stocking Park, Daytona, FL
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
The Airmen’s Awards from the city
Daisy Stocking Park, Daytona, FL
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Kurt Hinz and family with Brad Lang
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Students read their inspirational dog tags.
Rutland High School Macon, GA
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Great view of the crowd - ready for their RISE ABOVE Experience
Robins AFB, GA
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit served as an inspiration to
this group of students at Rutland High School, Macon,GA
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
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CHECK OUT OUR NEWEST MERCHANDISE!
The CAF Red Tail Squadron is pleased to announce that its popular Red Tail
book has been updated. The new title is “Red Tail – Keeping History Alive.”
The Squadron took this unusual step because it wanted to include the story
of the development and launch of the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit in
2011. Since the Squadron’s mission is to educate people about the history
and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the addition of the unique Traveling
Exhibit to the Squadron’s educational “toolbox” was important enough to
warrant updating the book. This wonderful addition to your library can be
purchased it at our online store. It makes a great gift, too!
Go to http://red-tail-gear.webstorepowered.com/ > Books
Have you checked out the new T-shirt design for 2012? It shows an artist’s
concept of the Squadron’s red-tailed Mustang escorting B-17s. You can see
the design in the Squadron’s online store.
The short-sleeved 100% pre-shrunk cotton T’s are available in adult sizes
S-3X and in dark blue, dark khaki green and light tan.
Go to http://red-tail-gear.webstorepowered.com/ > Apparel
Donations and The E-Store
The CAF Red Tail Squadron only has one full-time paid staff person. Because we watch our pennies so closely, you can rest assured that donations
to the Squadron are used for our educational mission. Did you get a tax
refund this year? Why not give 5% of it to the Squadron and get a head start
on your tax-deductible charitable donations for your 2012 taxes?
Get Updates Via Social Media
Many of you are familiar with the Squadron’s website at redtail.org. But did you know that we also have an active presence on
Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot? We regularly post updates and links to photo albums on our Facebook page. A new Twitter entry
is posted every weekday morning – and sometimes more often - at about 7:30 CDT and a new story appears on the blog on Friday
mornings. We love staying in touch with our supporters using Social Media. If you’ve not “friended” the Squadron on Facebook or to
“followed us” on Twitter or registered to get “new post” notifications for the blog, we encourage you do so. That way, you’ll not miss
out on any important announcements and updates.
DID YOU KNOW?
C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson earned his pilot’s license in 1929 and became the first Black American to receive
a commercial pilot’s certificate in 1932, and, subsequently, to make a transcontinental flight.
The CAF Red Tail Squadron is part of the Commemorative Air Force; we are not part of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI). All funds donated to the
CAF Red Tail Squadron are retained for our programs. While our efforts are in support of preserving the heritage and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen we provide no financial support to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Any original Tuskegee Airmen, surviving family members of deceased
Tuskegee Airmen or members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. who appear in our videos, literature or solicitations do so as compensated or uncompensated individuals and not as members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and should not be considered to be an endorsement by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
4
Maximum Lift – CAF President and CEO Stephan Brown
Steve Brown has
been President and
CEO of the Commemorative Air
Force since October, 2007. However, like so many
who are lucky
enough to work in
the aviation industry, his interest in
flying and war birds
has been lifelong.
He bought his first
airplane at age 26,
while he was stationed in Germany.
It was a Frenchbuilt Cessna 172,
often referred to as
a “Rheims Rocket.”
His post-military
career included managing marketing and branding in the sport
fishing industry and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
before joining the CAF.
can airplanes that flew there during World War II to preserve
freedom. If any group can appreciate the jobs those American
airplanes and their crews did during wartime, it’s the Europeans.”
Brown is matter-of-fact regarding the future of the CAF. He said,
“When I first got here, I sat down with the Red Tail Squadron’s
leader, Brad Lang, and asked him how we could get more diversity in this organization. Brad said we need to show people in
ads “that look more like me – a young person with a non-white
ethnic background.” We know that we were successful in the
past because veterans of all races supported our mission, but
as the veterans age, the face of CAF is changing. We now have
more diversity in our membership and that’s a better reflection of
what makes up America.
“I’m very proud of the fact that it’s the former Confederate Air
Force that is putting forward the Red Tail Squadron and honoring men of color. In case anyone is wondering, the old name,
‘Confederate Air Force,’ was not linked to the old South and the
Civil War. Rather, it was meant to be a pushback on the U.S. Air
Force, which was getting rid of the old airplanes without thinking
of how young Americans who weren’t even born yet could get an
opportunity to see these classic beauties in action. We changed
the organization’s name to ‘Commemorative Air Force’ in 2001
and haven’t looked back.”
The “people” aspect of marketing is what intrigues Brown and is
a strength he brought to the CAF. He said, “In my opinion, the
key to marketing anything well is to always look at the product
or service through the eyes of the consumer. If you do that and
can then turn around and show them the classic “what’s in it
for me?” aspect of what you’re offering, they’ll be customers for
life. I think that’s what makes the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s “RISE
ABOVE” movie so popular – people can really relate to what the
Tuskegee-trained pilots had to go through to reach a goal. The
“you-are-there” experience of flying in the Mustang doesn’t hurt,
either!”
He continued, “We will always need to create interest in what
we do and recruit new members. To that end, the CAF is doing cross marketing. We’re supporting country-singing star (and
commercial rated pilot) Aaron Tippin in the Red, White and Loud
concert tour. Tippin appears around the country and often there
is a CAF airplane just behind him as he sings. Sometimes, he
arrives at the concert in a CAF bomber! The idea is to get one audience – in this case, country music fans – acquainted with and
interested in something else that’s worthwhile. We’ll be doing
that a lot more in the future and I’m very excited about it.”
Brown is excited about the current fleet and those in the CAF’s
future. “84% of our fleet is flyable right now,” he said. “We
have 156 airplanes and 21 are in restoration, including an A-26
in Texas, a B-25 in Southern California and an F-86 in Reno, Nevada. That one is a fighter jet from the Korean War that actually
replaced the Mustang in many instances.”
Working with people is also a big part of Brown’s job. He said,
“I do a lot of traveling and get to meet the volunteers who keep
these airplanes flying. Since I started in 2007, I have visited 47
Wings and many of them more than once. I’m on the road at
least six months of the year. This past March, I spent just three
nights at home! No matter what I’m doing, I can usually hook
up with a Wing and get to see what they’re doing. The leadership
out there is amazing. Many of the leaders haven’t had to lead
before, but they step up and do a great job.”
Brown mentioned that the CAF is also active abroad. “The CAF
has Wings in France and Switzerland, too,” he said. “The European Wings don’t have CAF airplanes, but they honor the Ameri5
Red Tail Squadron Leader Brad Lang and Steve Brown
Photo courtesy Kevin Bailey
Fond Farewell to Larry “Bubba” Brown
Above all, he was ‘believer in the people’ by Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune
On his 90th birthday,
Lawrence Brown received
a gift from his children
and grandchildren -- a list
titled “90 Important Things
About Papa.’’ It ranged
from everyday qualities
such as “baseball player”
and “mini-van driver”
to obscure titles such as
“grammar police” and
“pretend movie hater.”
He played football on scholarship at Mankato State College and
studied at the University of Minnesota, but his education was
disrupted by his service in World War II. He didn’t earn a college
degree until his retirement decades later, when he completed
course work at Metropolitan State University.
By that time, he had already been a tax auditor for the Minnesota
Department of Revenue, a deputy director of the Urban Coalition in Minneapolis and an executive for the Hayes contracting
company.
His career included an unusual two-year stint in the 1960s in
Uganda, where he helped establish an income tax-withholding
system. His wife recalled one of their first days in Uganda, when
he asked a waiter to tell men at the other end of a bar to quiet
down.
Few summed him up as
aptly as Item 78: “Believer
in people.”
Brown, who grew up in
Minneapolis, fought in a
segregated unit in North
Africa during World War
II, coached youth sports in the Twin Cities and co-founded the
Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis, died on March 14 at
his home in Golden Valley. He was 92.
“Sir,” the waiter replied. “That is Colonel Amin. He’s the head of
the army. I don’t think it would be proper for me to tell him to be
quiet.”
Seeing families travel to the University of Minnesota for cancer
treatment compelled Brown to help found the first Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis. He used his skills and contracting
connections to renovate an old fraternity house.
Brown -- known to many as Larry or Bubba -- never forgot the
guidance he received at the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House,
a community center that was opened in the 1920s for immigrants
and black families. He later served as a board member and mentor at Phyllis Wheatley and continued into his 80s as a mentor
for Minneapolis students. Older teens often received the gift of a
dictionary after their sessions with him were done.
More recently, he volunteered for the Red Tail Squadron, a locally based organization that honors the black pilots who flew in
World War II as “Tuskegee Airman.” His brother Harold was one
of those historic pilots.
Brown didn’t want a funeral and donated his body to the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Friends and family celebrated
his life April 7 at the Calhoun Beach Club.
“He loved to work with kids,” said Jo Brown, his wife of 55 years.
“I think he probably should have been a teacher, because he really enjoyed it.”
They’ll no doubt remember items 89 and 90 from the list of
Brown’s qualities: “Proud papa” and “Great example.”
Brown coached youth baseball and football, and was an assistant
football coach at Minneapolis North High School.
Bubba was always encouraging youth to excel. They LOVED him!
Photo courtesy Max Haynes
In addition to his wife, Brown is survived by two children, Kevin
and Janine. A third, Laurie, died in childhood of leukemia.
6
Moton Field Welcomes The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the Mustang
It would be difficult to overstate how thrilled the CAF Red Tail Squadron staff was to bring the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit
and the red-tailed P-51C Mustang to the place it all began for the young black Americans who trained to be military pilots during
World War II. People were waiting at historic Moton Field for the Mustang to land on Thursday, April 18 and over the weekend,
hundreds more would stop by and wait to have their pictures taken by the airplane. They also waited to see the “RISE ABOVE” movie
in the Traveling Exhibit. Prior to the Traveling Exhibit setting up at Moton for the weekend, it was at Booker T. Washington High
School in Tuskegee and many students were able to see the movie.
Brad Lang, the Squadron leader, is the son of a Tuskegee Airman and he picked the Mustang up at Moton Field after its time in
Tuskegee so he could ferry it to the next air show at Warner Robins AFB, GA. He said, “My Dad flew at Moton Field and I grew up
hearing stories about the pilots who took their primary flight training there. To have been there, piloting the type of airplane that the
Airmen used to fight against the Luftwaffe, was an amazing experience for me.”
Long lines of eager people to see the Exhibit
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Tuskegee Airman, Bill Childs with the Mustang
Photo courtesy Terry Hollis
Coordinator’s Corner (Continued from page 1)
The knowledgeable Delta team, led by Pete Sansom, explained to air
show visitors the unique technical and operational vision that has made
Delta a leader in the airline industry. Some of the Delta team had seen
the Squadron’s Traveling Exhibit when it was in Atlanta and were impressed with its educational component.
Others took time from their busy schedules to visit it at the air show.
By the way, this year’s Robins AFB Air Show was a record-breaker with
attendance estimates of 180,000.
Prior to the Robins AFB Air Show weekend, the Hollises shared the
“RISE ABOVE” movie with more than 500 Rutland High School students
in Macon when the Traveling Exhibit came to their school. Our team
for that week consisted of Elena Early DePree, Terry and Jeanette Hollis,
and me. Elena is new to the team and did an outstanding job assisting and
announcing while I flew in the show.
The “Tuskegee Airmen” Mustang and a Delta 757-200
Photo courtesy Jay Updyke
Delta is making a determined effort to become a global leader in the airline industry. Part of this effort involves embracing the rich
diversity that has kept America strong. Delta Air Lines realizes that there are great American stories about heroes like the Tuskegee
Airmen. By sharing these stories, it is possible to inspire the public with examples of excellence.
The CAF Red Tail Squadron’s core educational mission is also to inspire people – especially young people - by keeping the history
of the Tuskegee Airmen alive. The Airmen showed that it is possible to rise above life’s personal challenges and succeed. At the 2012
Robins Air Force Base Air Show, the Squadron and Delta created a winning combination by linking the Tuskegee Airmen’s positive
message, based their past history, with Delta’s global outlook for the future.
Be sure to follow the CAF Red Tail Squadron on
Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot.
7
Contact INFORMATION
The CAF Red Tail Squadron has gone social
on Blogspot, Twitter and Facebook
The Squadron now blogs, tweets and is on Facebook! We’re excited
to be able to use these channels to share information and photos,
and also interact with our friends and supporters.
CAF Red Tail Squadron
310 Airport Road, Hangar 3
South St. Paul, MN 55075
To mail correspondence or donations
please send to:
CAF Red Tail Squadron
971 Hallstrom Drive
Red Wing, MN 55066
General Inquires:
LaVone Kay
Marketing Director
[email protected]
888.928.0188
Bradford Lang,
Squadron Leader
[email protected]
Doug Rozendaal,
Squadron Coordinator
[email protected]
Marvona Welsh
Logistics Coordinator
[email protected]
Robyn Feld
Creative Writer/Social Media Manager
[email protected]
John Beyl
Restoration/Maintenance Team Lead
[email protected]
The blog is updated every Friday morning. You can find it at
http://cafredtailsquadron.blogspot.com/. Recent topics include
barnstorming, The Blitz, angel flights, and airport ghosts.
We tweet a new entry each weekday morning and sometimes
more often. https://twitter.com/#!/cafredtail or just search for
“cafredtail” on Twitter.com
Our Facebook link is https://www.facebook.com/cafredtailsquadron or just search for “cafredtail” at Facebook.com You
can find great photos and links there and we invite you to
“Friend” us.
WE NEED YOU - BECOME AN ANNUAL SPONSOR!
Supporters like you are our greatest asset. With your donations we are able to
keep this rare P-51C Mustang flying and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen alive
with our RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit.
Become an annual sponsor at the special $99 level.
Why $99? To honor the Tuskegee Airmen’s
99th Fighter Squadron!
What you’ll receive:
To thank you for
your $99 donation
(plus S/H), you get a
special Sponsor hat,
the book Red Tail
– Keeping History
Alive, and our Red
Tail Mail quarterly
newsletter.
Renewing sponsors receive:
To thank you for renewing your annual
sponsorship you will recieve an inspirational dog tag, our Red Tail Mail quarterly
newsletter, and a Tuskegee Tales print by
Artist Patti O’Neal. Size of print is 11” X
14” and is double matted.
Please join up at www.redtail.org/donate
or call 888.928.0188 to help preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen for generations to come.