TAIL MA ed IL R ® ® CAF Red Tail Squadron N EW SLETTER Monthly Newsletter 2018 was a great year for the CAF Red Tail Squadron, and we are looking forward to an even better 2019! This year will bring about a number of new and exciting developments for the squadron, with a ground school for Ambassadors being held at CAF Headquarters in February, an action-packed season traveling the country for the RISE ABOVE: Red Tail program, and the eagerly anticipated release of the RISE ABOVE: WASP program later in the year. As Jimmy Doolittle once said, “There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer,” and we’re thrilled to have so many exceptional volunteers in the CAF Red Tail Squadron Ambassador Program. From regional contributors to the CAF Red Tail Squadron Virtual Photo courtesy Francis Wirtgen Museum and assistance with educational outreach program development, to onsite support with the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and P-51C Mustang, our volunteers do In This Issue - January 2019 an incredible job of helping us preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and inspire audiences across the country. Unique to the CAF Red Tail Squadron, we provide all • Leaders view volunteers with an Ambassador Handbook, which outlines typical tasks and responsibilities • Tour schedule at a glance as well as contains an extensive FAQ for answers to all of those questions we tend to get • Educational outreach asked at the various events we attend. • Greetings from the The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit will be starting the season on Monday, January 28 at Ambassador team CAF Headquarters for a special Black History Month Presentation open to students in the Dallas/Fort Worth area through Friday, February 8. More information can be found on • Profiles of Tuskegee Airmen: page 3 of this newsletter. Robert Tresville • Women of the Tuskegee Following the Black History Month Presentation in Texas, the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and P-51 C Mustang will embark on a 9-month journey across the country, including such Airmen: Amelia Robinson Jones events as the MCAS Beaufort, Joint Base Andrews, and Spirit of Saint Louis airshows, and • Breaking Boundaries in the other events in cities like Tallahassee, Florida, Spencer, North Carolina, Bowling Green, Sky Kentucky, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, to name a few. Be sure to check our online schedule and come see the Rise Above team at an event near you! • Blue Skies • Our mission in action Last but not least, fundraising efforts and filming for the RISE ABOVE: WASP experience are continuing, with an anticipated release later this year. RISE ABOVE: WASP will build • Join the Top Flight Club! upon the success of the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s outreach efforts and bring another • Quote of the month life-changing message to those ripe for the inspiration. CAF RISE ABOVE: WASP will detail the story of the first women to fly and assist the United States Armed Forces; • Educational resources the WASP, during WWII. The Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, were the first • Did you know female pilots to fly American Military aircraft. Because society held the view that women • Shop with us did not belong in a cockpit, these women had to overcome many challenges before ultimately proving themselves as more than equal to the task of flying complex, modern, • Virtual Museum artifact aircraft. Even though they faced a military un-willing to include them, the perseverance spotlight and dedication the WASP possessed, allowed them to serve their country in a time of great need, blazing a path for generations of women who would follow them into aircraft • In your words cockpits, and male dominated careers everywhere. Though there would only be 1,074 • Archive photos Women who could call themselves WASP, their story provides an inspirational lesson about the power of self-confidence and determination. Teaching us that no matter what • Thank you supporters our dreams may be, working to make them real, will allow us to ultimately succeed. Using • For more information never before seen WASP interviews, state of the art graphics, epic aerial sequences and historic reenactments, CAF RISE ABOVE: WASP will introduce these historic ladies’ story to the world like never before. If you’d like to make your mark on this important endeavor, we hope you will take a moment to learn more about this new expansion and consider pledging your support. Share the news with those you think would be interested, the CAF needs your help to get the word out! RISE ABOVE tour schedule at a glance PLEASE CHECK OUR SCHEDULE ONLINE FOR UPDATES! DATE EVENT LOCATION January 29-February Black History Month Program by invitation/RSVP CAF HQ- Dallas, TX 10 only RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit February 19-23 Rise Above Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang February 27-March 3 49 Days of Gratitude: NC Transportation Museum Spencer, NC RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang April 27-28 MCAS Beaufort Air Show Beaufort, SC RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang May 10-12 Joint Base Andrews Air Show Camp Springs, MD RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang May 24-26 The National Salute to America’s Heroes/Miami Miami, FL Beach Air & Sea Show RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang June 4-9 Fort Wayne Air Show Fort Wayne, IN RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang June 12-15 Aviation Heritage Park Hangar Party Bowling Green, KY RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit July 6-7 Kansas City Air Show Kansas City, MO RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang July 22-28 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, WI RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang September 6-8 Spirit of St. Louis Air Show & STEM Expo St. Louis, MO RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang September 14-15 Marion Wings & Wheels Marion, OH RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang September 25-29 Bikes, Blues, BBQ, and Bombers: Arkansas Air & Fayetteville, AR Military Museum RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit & P-51C Mustang November 1-3 Salute to Military Event at Kemah Boardwalk Kemah, TX RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit To book RISE ABOVE: Red Tail for your event contact Kristi Younkin, Senior Logistics Coordinator, at [email protected] or (479) 228-4520 Page 2 EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR DALLAS AREA STUDENTS January 28 - February 8, 2019 COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE at Dallas Executive Airport Event: Black History Month program Cost: There is no cost for students or teachers/ chaperones. Chaperones: 1 per 14 students Average Visit Length: 2 hours Available Dates: January 29 - February 16 Location: Dallas Executive Airport, CAF Headquarters, 5661 Mariner Drive, Dallas, TX 75237 Please note, there is no lunch provider located on site. For questions or to sign up your class please contact Bill Shepard at [email protected] or call (214) 330-1700, ext. 0. The CAF RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit will return to Dallas for a Black History Month program. This field trip provides students with an opportunity to learn about the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first African- American Military Pilots, and how the Airmen overcame segregation and adversity to become some of America’s best pilots in World War II. This field trip opportunity provides students with a chance to learn about the Tuskegee Airmen, and how the Airmen overcame segregation and adversity to become some of America’s best pilots in World War II. In addition to experiencing the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, students will participate in Flight Plan for Life activities designed to emphasize the lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen. These goal-setting activities are designed to help young people create a path to success, while articulating their life goals. Students will also be able to get “hands-on” history, handling artifacts from World War II. Groups will be led by CAF Vice President of Education Bill Shepard who received his pilot’s license at age 16 and is now an airshow pilot. Bill Shepard believes in the importance believes in the importance of perseverance and dedication in tackling life’s obstacles by taking inspiration from real-life stories of individuals who served our country in World War II. Page 3 GREETINGS FROM THE AMBASSADOR TEAM! The CAF Red Tail Squadron is looking for exceptional volunteers to become CAF Red Tail Squadron Ambassadors! There are opportunities to help as a regional contributor to the CAF Red Tail Squadron Virtual Museum, provide data entry support and assist with various other educational outreach program development tasks as needed. You can also join the team to travel with the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit and the rare P-51C Mustang during the airshow season. Those selected will work closely with the CAF Red Tail Squadron to further their mission to educate audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen – America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. Volunteer Coordinator Whether you can commit to an extended period of time on the road (for Melanie Burden example, a two-week tour through a particular geographic region) or are able to meet up in your hometown for a specific event, the CAF Red Tail Squadron would love to have you join our team! The Benefits of Volunteering • Learn something new or build on existing skills • Have fun • Make a difference • Meet people • Gain confidence • Be a part of a community Whether you can join us at an event or you prefer to help from the comfort of your own home, we have a ROLE for YOU! • The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit • P-51C Mustang • Photography • Virtual Museum • Education • Graphic Design • Marketing • Public Relations • Creative Writing If you would like to be considered for this incredible opportunity – and help preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and inspire audiences across the country – submit the online volunteer application form and a representative from the CAF Red Tail Squadron will contact you.