Blogs

Check out these wonderful events that the Commemorative Air Force participated in throughout communities in the U.S. And the UK!

Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center - Dallas, Texas

Central Texas Wing - San Marcos,...

Gulf Coast Wing members gave a B-17 Texas Raiders ride to Holly Stroud and her family, and when you hear her story you’ll know why it was such a special flight for them. Stories like this are #WhyWeFly!

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Out my office window amidst piles of dirt are men laboring in the oppressive heat of Texas July days, preparing for the concrete pour, just weeks away. A quick glance serves as a constant reminder to turn up the heat on the creation of programming for inside the NAEC. The Education Department is off to a good start, having revamped workstation-style learning activities for Wings Over Dallas’ Aviation Discovery Zone, built a Prekindergarten aviation experience, and an ongoing high school internship program for aviation students who are restoring a J-3 Cub. Many more programs in our...

January 23, 2020, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is excited to announce our newest unit being formed in the U.K. With the recent tour last summer of C-47 That’s All, Brother and C-53 D-Day Doll to participate in the 75th Anniversary in D-Day, there was a surge of interest to start a U.K. Wing of the CAF. CAF member Duncan Aran and his wife Elizabeth provided support services during the tour and have decided to keep up the momentum and establish a unit.

The Aran’s are currently attending events in England looking to promote...

I’m the S-1 NCOIC of The Parachute School with the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation located in Frederick, Oklahoma. I’m reaching out to you with the hopes you might be able to assist me as I would like to request your attendance to Frederick Airport in October for the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team’s Open Hangar Day. We’re a non-profit organization which preserves the history of Airborne Operations. Our Open Hangar Day starts on a Saturday at 0800 and allows the community to come out to our WWII Hangar to view or Jump School Students graduate and receive their Jump Wings. We...

Discover Aviation is a free event for the general public to come out to the airport and see what all aviation has to offer at the Whiteside County Airport (SQI). This is our third year putting on this free event and we've been growing it every year. We hope that in doing so, we ignite the spark in individuals to become involved and discover their place in aviation. We'd love to have some CAF airplanes there for rides/fly-bys/static displays, etc.

Event Name: Discover Aviation

CAF Members are invited to attend a Pizza Party at Whittman Regional Airport 525 W. 20th Ave, Oshkosh, WI, 54902 Friday, July 26, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. please RSVP to twright@cafhq.org

Requesting a possible flyover before our parade at 11am on August 17, 2019. Mulvane Old Settler's is a tradition that dates back 146 years. This year the theme chosen is "American Legion - Centennial of Honor" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Legion. We'd love to further commemorate that with an Air Force presence.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully, Christy Carpenter

Event Name: TBD

This event is sponsored annually by our church's Veterans Ministry. We sponsor hundreds and hundreds of veterans from the greater southeast Michigan and the Detroit area for a free day-long event providing celebrations, activities, memorials and lots of food and entertainment. Many of our attendees are wounded warriors and many are homeless. We bring them to our facility via our own transportation buses. We thought a fly-over would be greatly appreciated and inspirational to the entire crowd. We would love for you to support us in this effort. Thank you very much and may God bless you for...

In July 2019, the CAF Nominating Committee will choose candidates to run for five open slots on the General Staff. If you have someone you would like to nominate, please send the name(s) to Donna Blalack, email or to P.O. Box 764769, Dallas, TX 75376.

Recommendations are due by June 15, 2019.

Nominating Committee members:

Larry Lumpkin, Chair email

J. W. Don Johnson email

Archie Taylor, email

Here is a collection of the news stories about the CAF D-Day Wing, and the aircraft/aircrews of C-53 D-Day Doll *and C-47 *That's All, Brother. If there are any stories not listed here that should be, please forward a link to news@cafhq.org.

National & International News

United States - CNN - 96 Year Old Pilot Reminisces on D-Day Anniversary

United States – [Gear Patrol - The Limited Edition Watch Was Made in Honor of a 98-Year-Old WWII...

Dallas, TX, March 19, 2019 - It is time to send in Individual Award nominations and recommendations for the CAF Hall of Fame! The national level awards program is intended to recognize contributions that have been extraordinary and have brought national recognition to the accomplishments of the individual. For award criteria and sample citations, please see CAFR 900-1 CAF Awards and Decorations. Nominations for Individuals are due by July 15th.

On February 29, 2020, the Commemorative Air Force will induct three or four...

Aircraft Type: Any Date: April 26, 2019 Location: KMOB, Mobile, Alabama Contact: Jacob Warye | Brand Ambassador/LST/Project Officer Signature Flight Support KMOB Mobile Regional Airport Cell: (334)-561-4057 ** Mobile Aviation Day ** My name is Jacob Warye and I am the Brand Ambassador and Military Liaison for our Signature Flight Support KMOB location and we are planning on hosting our first Mobile Aviation Day that provides the community an opportunity to be up close to modern day military aircraft and promote civilian and military aviation career interests while strengthening our...

Aircraft Type: Any Date: June 1, 2019 Location: Argle, TX Contact: Jeff Hingen (817) 874-1924 CVMA236PRO@outlook.com ** Ride For the Veterans Fun Run ** Hello I am the Public relations officer for Combat Vets Association (501c19 non-profit) in Ft Worth. We are having a Ride for Veterans Jun 1. It will end in Argyle, TX at the corner of 377 & 407 and there we will have vendors, Auctions, Raffles and and a live band. All proceeds go to local DFW Veteran Charities to include, Ft. Worth Roll Call, DFW Canines for Veterans and Combat Veterans Association....

Aircraft Type: Any Date: Sept. 7, 2019 Location: Crawfordsville, IN (CFJ)

Contact: Lori Curless (765) 362-0707 lcurless@crawfordsville-in.gov

** Crawfordsville Airport Day 75th Anniversary ** Would like to have any aircraft come in to help us celebrate our 75th anniversary (scheduled for Sept 7, 2019). Would encourage participation from any CAF aircraft which can also sell rides to the public throughout the week/weekend. Already have some other aviation participants confirmed including - EAA Young Eagle rides; helicopter rides; Civil...

12 Planes of Christmas on CrowdRise

CAF Unit Leaders, Operations Officers and Maintenance Officers, This Safety Stand Down video is MANDATORY VIEWING for all CAF pilots. Watching this video and submitting the attachment is required before your next flight in a CAF aircraft! All CAF Operations Officers and Maintenance Officers please ensure that this video is forwarded to all the pilots and Mechanics in your unit. All CAF members are encouraged to watch this important Safety Stand Down video - widest dissemination please. Thank You, V/R Jim Lasche VP of Safety Operations &...

Tuskegee Airmen pilot and notable record holder Lee Archer was born September 6, 1919 in Yonkers, New York and raised in Harlem. He was a graduate of New York University before he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November of 1941.

Archer had aspirations of becoming a pilot, but at the time of his enlistment flight training had not yet opened to qualified black service members. Instead, he received training as a telegrapher and field network communications specialist and assigned to a post in Georgia. Then in December of 1942, Archer was accepted into the new aviation cadet training...

Join Tuskegee Airman Dr. Harold Brown and CAF Red Tail Squadron Leader Doug Rozendaal for a free LIVE webinar and conference call! Hear Dr. Brown’s inspirational story and learn how others can benefit from his extraordinary experiences.

February 28, 2017

7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

FREE!

Please join us for this free event to talk with Tuskegee Airman Dr. Harold Brown, a pilot with the renowned 332nd Fighter Group of World War II. Dr. Brown is a true American hero who overcame many obstacles, including prejudice and...

Dallas, TX (December 1, 2022) - A Letter from CAF President Hank Coates:

Dear CAF Members and Supporters,

By now, you all know about the accident that occurred at the Wings Over Dallas WWII Airshow in November that took the lives of the six members of the aircrew. There was a lot of deliberation deciding whether or not to have this fundraising campaign this year. Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we should move forward with the 12 Planes of Christmas campaign for 2022. This event has become a tradition that closes out the year and allows us to shine a light on so many...