| Cirrus
Design Corporation |
| Harold
Brown |
| Lena
Horn |
| The
American Airpower Museum Inc. |
| The
Tuskegee Airmen |
Cirrus
Design Corporation
CIRRUS PROUDLY FLIES
THE SPIRIT FORWARD
Aircraft Company Now Sponsoring the CAF Red Tail Project
Duluth, Minn. (August 2, 2005) It’s a cornerstone
of the Cirrus Design philosophy that the joy of
flying should be within reach of everybody. To further
that mission, CIRRUS is pleased to announce their
new sponsorship in support of the CAF Red Tail Project.
“The CAF Red Tail Project is about keeping alive
the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen, and retaining
this important part of aviation history for future
generations to learn about and be inspired by,”
said Dale Klapmeier, CIRRUS co-founder and executive
vice president.
read full press release >>
Cirrus
Design Corp web site |
Harold
Brown
View Harold
Brown's story in the Tuskegee Airmen section.
more info coming soon...
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of page |
Lena
Horn Joins the CAF Red Tail Project
In August, 1996, Lena Horne, famed singer and
actress, endorsed the CAF Red Tail Project and agreed
to accept the honor and responsibility of Honorary
Chairperson of the CAF Red Tail Project!
August 26, 1996
Attention Commemorative Air Force and Tuskegee
Airmen Incorporated:
The Tuskegee Airmen made a substantial contribution
to the fight for freedom during World War II.
They deserve to be recognized for their sacrifice
and achievements, both during the War and throughout
their lives. These men have indeed earned their
"holy moment" in history.
I am pleased to accept the position of honorary
chairperson of The CAF Red Tail Project and am proud
to be part of such a worthwhile and humane undertaking.
Sincerely,
Lena Horne
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The
American Airpower Heritage Museum, Inc.
http://www.airpowermuseum.org/
The AAHM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum
and the parent organization of the Southern
Minnesota Wing and the CAF Red Tail Project. The
AAHM is comprised of four corporations dedicated
to the preservation in flying condition of WWII
aircraft. The Red Tail Mustang is owned by the American
Airpower Heritage Flying Museum and will be flown
and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force. The
four corporations that make up the AAHM are:
The American Airpower Heritage Foundation
The American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum
The American Airpower Heritage Museum
The
Commemorative Air Force
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The
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
On February 3, 1994, the Tuskegee Airmen and the
American Airpower Heritage Museum found themselves
in agreement on the scope and significance of
this project and the TAI officially endorsed the
project.
February 3, 1994
Southern Minnesota Wing
Commemorative Air Force
Hangar No. 3 Fleming Field
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Dear John:
I am very pleased to be able to tell you and the
members of your Wing that the "Tuskegee Airmen"
National Board of Directors have approved and
support your plans to restore your North American
P-51C Mustang in the colors of the "Red Tails."
Because our fund raising efforts are dedicated
to our Scholarship program, we will be unable
to assist you financially as an organization,
but we will encourage our membership to participate
and exert any influence they might have toward
the completion of this project.
We will cooperate in any way possible to provide
historical and personal data to assist the project.
We firmly believe that when this aircraft appears
at airshows and civic celebrations around the
country that it will evoke strong positive images
for the youth of America.
Let us all try to get the job done and we will
meet at CAF Headquarters in Midland, Texas for
the dedication.
Sincerely,
//s//
Roger C. "Bill" Terry, President
Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated
P.S. For a reference to the Board's action on
the P-51C project: See minutes of Board meeting
Rosemont Illinois, December 11, 1993. Pages 212-221.
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|
Honorary Chair Profile
Lena Horne ~ singer and actress ~ was born in 1917 and
started her career as a dancer for the Cotton Club in
1934. She recorded and toured with the Noble Sissle
Orchestra in 1935-36 and the Charlie Barnet's Band in
1940-41.
She also starred in numerous motion  pictures
including Cabin in the Sky, Stormy Weather, Death of
a Gunfighter, Thousands Cheer, I Dood It, Swing Fever,
Broadway Rhythm, Two Girls and a Sailor, Ziegfield Follies,
Panama Hattie, Till the Clouds Roll By, Words &
Music, Duchess of Idaho, Meet Me in Las Vegas and many
others. Her two favorite movies were both made in 1943:
Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather.
Her career extended to the small screen in many guest
starring appearances on shows such as the Cosby Show
and Sanford & Son and to the theater in productions
of Dance with your Gods, Blackbird, 1984 and The Lady
and Her Music.
To many, Lena is known for her music. She has released
many albums over the past three decades including releases
in 1992 (Greatest Hits and At Long Last Lena), 1993
(Best of Lena Horne), 1994 (We'll be Together Again),
and the live 1995 recording, An Evening with Lena Horne.
As a nightclub entertainer, she is perhaps best known
for the song Stormy Weather.
Lena is also a 1984 recipient of the prestigious Kennedy
Center Honor for Lifetime Contribution to the Arts.
Her early career was, like many, a rocky one. It was
difficult for a black woman to get serious work, but
her skills didn't go unnoticed. She got an agent who
introduced her to nightclub owners. At one point, she
met Barbara Walters who suggested she might become a
featured attraction if she changed her name and passed
herself off as a Latin lady (she didn't). She was introduced
to the jazz clubs and eventually to Charlie Barnet,
one of the big band leaders of the swing era and one
of the few white bands welcome at the Apollo and the
Savoy. He hired her on the spot.
From there she went on to the Paramount Theater where
she starred with Dinah Shore and sang Good for Nothin'
Joe with the Barnet aggregation. Through the 30's and
40's she performed at the Cafe Society with boogie-woogie
greats such as Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons and Pete
Johnson, an appearance on Broadway and an engagement
at Felix Young's Little Troc which brought her a contract
with MGM Studios launching her long movie career. |
