World War II and Korean War Air Combat Pilots Speak April 7

 American aces recall combat adventures of two wars

SEATTLE, April 3, 2012--On April 7 at 2 p.m. a panel of three veteran fighter pilots will share their personal stories of aerial combat during World War II and the Korean War. This panel discussion includes Korean War ace USAF Gen. Charles Cleveland, World War II U.S. Navy ace Cmdr. Willis Hardy and World War II RCAF and USAF combat pilot Col. Al Jones. The program is free with admission to the Museum.

The Pilots

Gen. Charles Cleveland is a recognized ace with five aerial combat victories as a USAF jet pilot during the Korean War. Cleveland was flying F-86s during those battles, and each of his opponents was a flying MiG-15. He is the 40th Ace of the Korean War.

Cmdr. Willis Hardy flew F6F Hellcats during Tokyo strikes, the Iwo Jima Invasion and the Okinawa/Kyushu campaigns. On April 6, 1945 he downed five Japanese aircraft.

Col. Al Jones started his flying career as a volunteer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. While he was based in England during 1942-1943 he flew 40 night bombing missions for the Royal Air Force. In 1943 Jones transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force, continuing with the night "intruder" missions in Bristol Beaufighters and the P-61 Black Widow.

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The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum's collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn^® -- the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick's Wings Café is on site.

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