Pacifc West Aerospace Academy 2nd Annual Auction Program

PACIFIC WEST AEROSPACEACADEMY & TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY PRESENTSBEYOND THE CLOUDS Heroes & Legends AUGUST 8, 2015 Hosted by Clay LacyPermission Granted By Chris Hopkins

Clay Lacy, Partner Joe Clark, PartnerWELCOME!CLAY LACY AVIATION is proud to host the Pacific West Aerospace and Tuskegee Universityevent entitled “BEYOND THE CLOUDS Heroes & Legends Benefit Celebration” on August 8,2015.As partners of Clay Lacy Aviation, we take pride in providing global private jet charter andaircraft management services.We are extremely proud of our sponsorship of over 200 students of the Pacific West Aero-space Academy in their quest to learn about aviation. Our students have excelled in a vari-ety of aviation professions including: aircraft controllers, architects, civil and electrical en-gineers, commercial and military pilots and teachers.Enjoy and Thank You for Celebrating with us!

Pacific West Aerospace Academy Tuskegee AirmenOur key goal is to indoctrinate, inspire, motivate and create a career path for economicallydisadvantaged inner-city youth between the ages of 13-19 ages within the Puget Sound re-gion. Ty Peterson is the Instructor and Program Director for Pacific West Aerospace Academy.He is a former commercial airline pilot and Officer Candidate School graduate from the Unit-ed States Marine Corps. Mr. Peterson is an aviation instructor from private pilot level to air-line transport.Students are encouraged to accomplish outstanding achievements and leadership in ourdemocratic society, through social exposure, educational pursuits and scholarships and to ad-dress matters of social concern and engage in activities that better their communities.Students tour airport flight operations and military, airport towers and airport firefighting fa-cilities.Students courses and tuition are funded by Mr. Clay Lacy of Clay Lacy Jets and Mr. Joe ClarkandBoeing Corporation. Fundraising proceeds will be used for ground & flight training, touringcommercial airplane manufacturers and airlines commercial including private and corporatesectors, military installations, funding transportation costs. maintenance costs.Instructors provide courses in Theory of Aerodynamics, Astronomy, History of Aviation, Me-teorology, Navigation (Charts & Publications), Aircraft Physiology, Basic Aircraft Systems, Air-craft Performance & Weight and Balance, Power plants, Air traffic Control & Airspace, Spaceand Planets and Federal Air Regulations.We encourage our students towards Aerospace, Aviation, Science, Technology, Engineeringand Mathematics (STEM) careers.This aviation program introduces to the student the importance of discipline, responsibility,integrity, leadership, accountability, perseverance and honesty all of them qualities exhibitedand demonstrated decades ago by the Tuskegee Airmen.Tayarji PetersonAviation Instructor and Program Director

On behalf of theSeattle City Council Welcome!to the Councilmember Bruce Harrell“Beyond the Clouds”Heroes & Legends AviationYouth FundraiserHosted by Pacific West Aerospace AcademyIt is my pleasure to welcome you to the ”Beyond the Clouds” Heroes & Legends Aviation Youth Fundraiser forPacific West Aerospace Academy and Tuskegee University. Pacific West Aerospace Academy has shown that ouryouth can achieve their full potential – they can dare to dream big. Their work is a testament that one’s name,ethnicity or gender is no barrier to success. When I see our community working together to empower young menand women, particularly African American students, I am inspired.Congratulations to the students and the Heroes & Legends honorees! Your journey reminds me of a quote byHenry Ford, which reads:“You can do anything if you have enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. Enthusi-asm is the spark in your eye, the swing in your gait, the grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of your will and yourenergy to execute your ideas. Enthusiasts are fighters, they have fortitude, they have strong qualities. Enthusiasm is atthe bottom of all progress. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis.\"As the only sitting Seattle City Councilmember of African American heritage, I salute Pacific West AerospaceAcademy and Tuskegee University and congratulations to your incredible honorees, Lt. Colonel Ken Wheeler andMr. Clay Lacy.Sincerely,Bruce HarrellSeattle City CouncilChair, Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology Committee



Thanks for the MemoriesKen served with distinction during WW II, Korea, Vietnam and duringpeacetime before his Air Force retirement at the Pentagon in December1969. Although he flew in support of many conflicts around the worldduring his 28-year career, it is the events during the 10 months he flewcombat missions in B-17 bombers out of Italy during World War IIthat tie directly into his connection with the Tuskegee Airmen. Theyflew protection for his aircraft as well as hundreds of others and earnedhis respect and thankfulness for how well they served their fellow ser-vicemen and our country.We are very thankful that after parachuting from Ken’s burning aircraft over enemy territory and evading cap-ture, he returned to finish his flying missions and came home without physical or emotional scars.Ken grew up primarily in the Puget Sound area experiencing a “Tom Sawyer” type boyhood with his two broth-ers. He was attending the University of Washington, majoring in engineering, when he volunteered for the draftin January of 1943.It wasn't long until Ken was given the choice between becoming a pilot, a navigator or a bombardier. . He chosenavigation as he already knew how to fly and he wanted to learn how to navigate so he could follow his dreamof sailing a boat around the world someday. (That dream never came true but sailboats were an important part ofhis life.)Ken ended up navigating B-17's, C-54's, C-97's, C-124's and many others during his career. He was first sta-tioned at an airbase in Italy where he was assigned with the 15th Army Air Force and flew 35 combat missionsmeaning he flew over targets 52 times. He then flew for Military Airlift Command, navigating transport aircraftall over the world and accumulating over 10,000 flying hours. Following his military retirement he worked forRanger Boats in Kent, Washington, supervising the assembly shop, lofting (changing plans to full size patterns),constructing full-size wooden mock-ups of new boat designs, choosing appropriate rigging and hardware, test-ing the prototype boats, both sail and power and selling and demonstrating them to customers.Ken thanks God for steering him through the right decisions that gave him two careers that he loved; flying andsailing. His choice of subjects to study in high school and college proved critical in his choice of careers.Lorraine Barringer became Ken's bride while he was in cadet training in Santa Ana in 1943. Their first babydied within 10 days of Ken’s return from Italy in 1945. During the remaining 31 years of marriage, they raisedsix children while he was stationed intermittently in the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Japan, and Washington,D.C. In 1976 Ken married Sharon Crumbaker who brought two more chil- dren into his family. Ken and Sharon live in Gig Harbor, Washing- ton. Retirement finds Ken reading, tinkering, telling war stories, helping folks in need, gathering with family members (the eight chil- dren brought 16 grandchildren and so far 23+ great-grandchildren), puttering with or talking about model plane, telling his story to groups especially elementary and high school children, supporting the Cascade Warbirds and the Tuskegee Airmen and traveling in be- tween!. Ken is active in his church. One of his favorite ways to serve the church is to represent the Air Force in honor guard presentations on Memorial Day and Veterans Day proudly wearing his uniform.

PROGRAM5:00-6:00 MEET, GREET & SOCIALIZE6:006:15 MASTER OF CERMONY MARCUS TRUFANT6:30 SHORT MEMORIAL VIDEO7:007:30 SALUTE TO OUR LEGENDS,9:00 LT. COL. KEN WHEELER & SPECIAL V.I.P. AUCTION BUFFET DINNER MUSIC by NAVELE MUSIC by LENNY WILLIAMS CLOSING REMARKS & ACKNOWEDGEMENTS TAYARJI ‘Tay” PETERSON

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TUSKEGEEAIRMEN & WOMENAfrican-American Elite Fighter UnitsNicknamed the “Lonely Eagles” the Tuskegee Air-men, overcame the “separate but equal” condi-tions sanctioned by the United States Army tobecome one of the most highly respected and honored fighter groups. According to officialmilitary records, the Tuskegee Airmen of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd FighterGroup completed 1,578 missions, destroyed over 260 enemy aircraft, sank one enemy de-stroyer and demolished numerous enemy installations. For their efforts, these airmen re-ceived 95 Distinguished flying crosses, as well as the Legions of Merit, Silver Stars, PurpleHearts, the Croix de Guerre, and the Red Star of Yugoslavia. Moreover, according to numer-ous accounts the men of the 332nd Fighter Group never lost a bomber to enemy fighter swhile escorting the 15th Air Force on bombing missions. This earned the Tuskegee Airmen therespect of American bomber crews, who called them the “Red- tail Angels” after their distinc-tive red tail markings as well as the German Luftwaffe who referred to the men as the“Schwartze Vogel menschen,” or “Black Airmen”. The accomplishments of these airmen alsorepresent a peak in the struggle by African Americans to participate in the U.S. armed forcestheir combat successes proved to military leaders that, if given the opportunity, African-Americans could become effective military leaders and combat veterans. The Tuskegee Airmen Experience” extends beyond the combat exploits of the pilots who served in the 99TH Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. It should include the 477th Bombardment Group, which fought for equal rights with the Army Air Forces sys- tem, and the thousands of men and women who served in civilian and military support groups. On July 19, 1941, twelve aviation cadets and one stu- dent officer, Captain Benjamin O. Davis,, Jr. reported to Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University) to being flight training as the first class of African-American pilot can-

didates in the U.S. Military. By November, only six of these candidates had demonstrated the neces- sary skills, passed the training course, and were transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field to com- plete their pilot training with the Army Air Corps (Army Air Forces). On March 7, 1942 the first class of African Ameri-can aviation cadets graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Field and became the nation’s firstblack military pilots. The significance of this event should not be underestimated – afteryears of struggle, African Americans were finally accepted and commissioned as pilots andofficers in the United States Army. The successful training of these pilots at Tuskegee alongwith the United States’ entry into WWII, led the military to expand its African-American avi-ation program. Consequently, the Army Air Forces established another African Americanunit the 332nd Fighter Group and began plans for a segregated medium bomber groupknown as the 477th Bombardment Group.Despite the advances in African –American military aviation, it still remained to be seenwhether these pilots would be used in combat beside white pilots and soldiers to defendthe country in WWII. Although the 99th Fighter Squadron had completed its training bySpring 1942, it was not until 1943 that the Army sent them to North Africa for combat duty.The squadron patrolled North Africa and the Mediterranean for several months withoutscoring a single victory.Finally on July 2, 1943, the unit shot down its first enemy aircraft. The lack of combat victo-ries led several military leaders to question their abilities. When Lieutenant Colonel Benja-min O. Davis, Jr. returned to the United States in Au-gust, 1943 to assume command of the 332nd FighterGroup, a Senate Advisory Committee called uponhim to answer questions concerning the 99th squad-ron’s performance. Based upon the committee’sfindings, the Army Air Forces proceeded with plansto establish an African-American medium bombergroup and sent the 332nd Fighter Group to the Medi-terranean to test their combat skills.Although racial attitudes and discriminatory behav-

ior of some Army Air Forces officials and mili-tary leaders led them to question the perfor-mance of the Tuskegee Airmen, the unit scoreda series of victories in 1944 and changed publicopinion concerning their aggressiveness. AlliedForces landed at Anzio on January 21, 1944, inhopes of furthering their campaign on themainland of Italy. The 99th squadron participat-ed in this attack, and by February 10, 1944, theunit had 17 confirmed kills, 4 probable victoriesand 6 damaged enemy aircraft. As news of thesuccess of the Tuskegee Airmen reached military leaders, many formerly opposed to thegroup began to favor them and praise their achievements, as well a include them in morevital missions. More importantly, the Tuskegee Airmen earned the respect of severalbomber crews, who began depending on the coverage provided by the group and calledthem the “Red-tail Angels”.AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE MILITARYAfrican Americans have continually played a significant role in the United States Militaryand its colonial predecessors. Not only did they struggle to enter the armed forces, butwhen finally accepted by the government, they had to work under segregated and unequalconditions and prove their abilities. Both free and enslaved Africans and African Americansfought in colonial wars and continued to support European nations and the U.S. in the Rev-olutionary War and the War of 1812. By the end of the revolutionary War, approxi- mately 5,000 African Americans had served in the Continental Army and Navy, while thousands fought for the British cause. Alt- hough the extent of African-American partici- pation in the War of 1812 is unclear scholars estimate that approximately fifteen to twenty percent of the men in the navy were African- American. Moreover, two African-American units merged to form the Free Negro Battal-

ion who, with the aid of another 500 black soldiers, helped Andrew Jackson defeat the Britishat the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.Many African Americans fought in these conflicts for two reasons; to defeat the enemy and toearn freedom, equality, and respect for their race. They achieved some social gains for theirsacrifices, for many were rewarded with immediate or gradual freedom. Nonetheless, only afew African Americans benefited from this privilege compared with the millions who re-mained enslaved. THE ROLE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AVIATORSBy the start of the Civil War in 1861, over four million African-Americans were held in bondage while less than one halfmillion had obtained freedom. The Civil War, howeveroffered many enslaved African Americans an opportunity tofight or their freedom. Many slaves escaped from their mas-ters, sought refuse within Union lines, and offered their services to the cause. However, ini-tially African-American troops were placed in non-combatant roles or were assigned menialtask such as building fortifications and digging canals and trenches. By 1863, the North real-ized the need for additional manpower and began to enlist African Americans in the militaryin greater numbers.The successes of the Tuskegee Airmen represent a turning point in the role of African Ameri-cans in the United States military. This helped pave the way for desegregation of the militarybeginning with President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 in 1948 It also helped setthe stage of civil rights advances during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

WOMEN PILOTSBessie Coleman – A TrailblazerThe woman aviator prior to Amelia Earhart who haslargely been forgotten to history is Bessie Coleman.Elizabeth Coleman was born on January 26, 1892,thetenth of thirteen children in a one-room, dirt-flooredcabin in Atlanta, Texas, Bessie eventually ended up liv-ing with her brother Walter in Chicago, Illinois. Sheworked as a manicurist at the White Sox Barber Shopwhere she would hear such worldly tales of flight fromreturning WWI pilots. She became inspired by their ta-les of flight during the war. It was then that she discov-ered a goal for her life: to become a pilot.Bessie was denied admission to American flight Permission Granted By Chris Hopkinsschools due to her race and gender. Nor would any of Permission Granted By Chris Hopkinsthe few black American aviators agree to train her. She completed flight training at the bestschool in France and was awarded her Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (F.A.I.; inter-national pilot's license) license on June 15, 1921. Bessie Coleman was the first African Ameri-can woman in the world to earn her pilots license. She continued to fly throughout Europe soas to gain further valuable flying experience.In the states she became known as \"Queen Bess\" and was highly popular and admired byboth blacks and whites. In 1922 the Chicago Defender named Bessie Coleman, \"the world'sgreatest woman flier\" as she would rely on her skill and daring to deliver stunning demon-strations of dare devil maneuvers including figure eights, loops, and near ground dips. Shewould stop at nothing to complete a stunt no matter how difficult or dangerous.Bessie Coleman would not live long enough to fulfill her dream of establishing a school of avi-ation for African Americans. The plane she had purchased was not considered safe and herfriends and family begged her not to fly it. She had an exhibition scheduled May 1st 1926 forthe Jacksonville Negro Welfare League. On April 30, 1926 her mechanic and publicity agent,William D. Wills piloted the plane on a trial flight while Bessie sat in the other seat to lookover the cockpit sill to survey the terrain over which she was to fly and parachute the nextday. She did not attach her seat belt as she had to lean out of the cockpit to select the bestsites for her program. The plane dived at an altitude of 1,000 feet, and spun out of control. Atan altitude of 500 feet Bessie Coleman was thrown to her death. The plane plummeted to theground killing Wills in a burst of flames. It was discovered later that an unnoticed wrench hadslid into the plane's gearbox and jammed it.Her pioneering achievements served as an inspiration to generations of African Americanmen and women.

Permission Granted By Chris HopkinsJanet Harmon Waterford BraggLike many African Americans during a time of rigid segregation, Bragg continued to meet op-position in her pursuit of a career in commercial and military aviation. She was denied entryinto the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPs), being told by Ethel Sheehy, then vice presi-dent of the '99s and Women's Flying Training Detachment executive officer, that she didn'tknow what to do with a Black woman. Undaunted, she flew to Tuskegee, .Alabama to trainwith Charles Alfred \"Chief\" Anderson and his instructors in the civilian program so that shecould be given an exam for her commercial pilot's license. However, the white examiner de-nied her this right after she landed from her trial flight. He exclaimed to Anderson that, \"Well,I tell you Chief, she gave me a ride I'll put up with any of your flight instructors. I've never giv-en a colored girl a commercial pilot's license, I don't intend to now-.\" The same year (1942),however, she was awarded her license by another examiner after 30-40 minutes of flight.

Congratulations to Pacific West Aerospace Academy and our Future Aviation students. Keep On Soaring! Specializing in employment matters 253-252-5454 3929 Bridgeport Way West, Suite 208 University Place, WA 98466 [email protected]