SEATTLE, July 1, 2009
--Heroes of the air, the American Fighter Aces will again share their stories at The Museum of Flight on July 11 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater.
The Museum will host a panel of three fighter pilots: Capt. Fred Ohr, who is the only American ace of Korean ancestry, and had six aerial victories and 17 ground victories; Lt. Col. Richard W. Asbury, who participated in 240 combat missions spanning three wars; and Lt. Col. Stan Richardson, who flew P-38s and P-51s in the European Theater during World War II, and participated in the D-Day Invasion.
Fred Ohr was born in Portland, Ore. in 1919 and became an aviation cadet in 1941. He was later assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group in North Africa and Sicily as a fighter pilot flying Spitfires. He scored his first aerial combat victory flying a Spitfire in 1943. The rest of his victories came after the group transitioned to P-51s in 1944. Ohr ended his tour of duty as the squadron's commanding officer. After the war he returned to college in California and established a career as a dental surgeon in Chicago, where he lives now.
Richard W. Asbury was born in Maryland in 1920. He entered U.S. Air Force training in 1942, and was stationed in England in 1943. He flew combat missions over Europe in P-51s. In 1944 his German opponents were flying Me-109s and Fw-190s, and on one occasion he successfully out-maneuvered the fighters even though out-numbered by 10 to one. His decorations include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 21 Air Medals and three Air Force Commendation Medals. He later flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. Asbury lives in Moline, Ill.
Stan Richardson was part of the first U.S. fighter squadron to fly over Berlin on March 4, 1944. Richardson flew P-38 Lightnings to provide air cover for the Allied invasion force at Normandy on D-Day. After the war Richardson moved to Portland, Oregon and began a career as a pilot for Pan American World Airways. He also flew for the Air Force during the Korean War, and served with the Oregon Air National Guard. Richardson lives in Beaverton, Ore.
The Museum of Flight is the home of the American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA), founded to recognize the 1,442 combat pilots that received a special distinction of becoming an ace by earning five or more aerial combat victories. Museum visitors can see examples of the actual types of aircraft these men flew and fought against, including the P-38, P-40, P-47 and Me-109. The Museum also has many other World War II fighter aircraft on display and personal artifacts belonging to the many men and women who served our country during that conflict. ### The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport on Boeing Field. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for active military, $7.50 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org.
