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Flying Tigers Exhibit Opens at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
Posted on October 28, 2011 by Damon
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor opened its American Volunteer Group “The Flying Tigers” Exhibit with a dedication and gala reception yeterday in honor of the pilots and support personnel who protected the China skies. It is a permanent exhibit, which is housed in the Museum’s Hangar 79.
A Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Flying Tiger, which was one of the most popular and successful American aircraft of WWII, joined the aircraft collection at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in July of 2010 and is the centerpiece of the new exhibit. The aircraft is valued at $1.5 million and is on loan to the Museum from FedEx.
Prior to the United States involvement in World War II, a group of volunteers was formed to train and equip the Republic of China Air Force with fighter aircraft. They soon became the only aerial support for a country under attack. Parallel to the effort was a group of air transport pilots who “flew the Hump” carrying war material, food, and other supplies. If it were not for these two groups, life in China might be much different today.
According to Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff, “The P-40 displayed in our new Flying Tigers exhibit is depicted as number 67, flown by pilot Robert Prescott. On the tail horizontal stabilizer are the names of some of the American pilots and crew who supported the ninety P-40 aircraft received in China to fight. It’s an incredible addition to our Museum and we’re grateful to FedEx.”
Artifacts included in display cases around the exhibit include uniforms and patches that were worn by both American and Chinese members of the three fighter squadrons and the transport group, tools and gear carried by the crews, and original photographs of the aircraft, people and airfields.
The exhibit is dedicated to one of those transport pilots who was a great supporter of aviation and Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in his later years—Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. The event featured a special tribute to Senator Stevens who was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force and flew the Curtiss C-46 and Douglas C-47 cargo transports “over the Hump” into China, in 1944 and 1945.
Built in 1942 for the Royal Canadian Air Force and used primarily for training during WWII, the aircraft changed ownership before being shipped to Hawaii in 1969 to be used in the filming of Tora! Tora! Tora!
The aircraft recognizes Flying Tiger Line founder Robert Prescott, American Volunteer Group (AVG) ace and a member of Flying Tigers in China. The AVG consisted of pilots recruited from U.S. Forces and contracted with the China National Aviation Corporation to fly for China. The Tigers are credited with 299 confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed during their service from 1941~1942. The FedEx aircraft on loan to the Museum is the P-40E model painted to resemble the Flying Tigers P-40B Number 67. Many of the pilots signed the left side and the support crew signed the right side of the horizontal tail assembly, during a reunion in 1981.
Manufactured by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, the “67” on the side of the plane represents the original number that crashed early in the fighting. A red illustration on the front fuselage represents the Third Pursuit Squadron, “Hells Angels.” An insignia on the wings represents the Chinese Air Force.
Related articles
- The Flying Tigers Exhibit Opens Soon at the Pacific Aviation Museum (damontucker.com)
- This Weekend: The Biggest Little Airshow on Ford Island (damontucker.com)
- Pan Am Exhibit Opens At Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)
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Two Middle School Students Charged with Terroristic Threatening in Connection with a Fake Bomb at School
Posted on October 28, 2011 by Damon
Two middle school students have been charged with terroristic threatening in connection with a fake homemade bomb confiscated at Konawaena Middle School on Wednesday (October 26).
Kona patrol officers responded to the school Thursday afternoon (October 27) in response to a report that school officials had confiscated a homemade bomb from a student. Police investigation revealed that the device—consisting of an aluminum can with electronic parts and numerous wires—had been confiscated from a 13-year-old boy’s backpack on Wednesday and taken to the vice principal’s office. It had been given to the 13-year-old boy by a 14-year-old boy, who is also a student at the school.
Police secured the building and called the U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Oahu.
Both students were arrested at the school at 2:30 p.m. After consulting with Hawaiʻi County prosecutors, police charged each of them at 3:30 p.m. with first-degree terroristic threatening. They were release to the custody of their parents or guardians pending an appearance in Family Court.
Shortly after 6 p.m., when school was closed, the Army’s bomb squad arrived and determined that the bomb was a simulation that did not contain any explosives.
Major James O’Connor from the Area II Operations Bureau, said this incident is a reminder of the importance of communication between parents and their children.
“As a parent myself, I can’t stress enough the value of making ourselves aware of what our children are reading, writing and talking about,” O’Connor said. “A parent’s guidance can reduce or eliminate these potentially dangerous situations.”
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“Think Local, Buy Local” Campaign During Black & White Night in Downtown Hilo
Posted on October 28, 2011 by Damon
The Hawai‘i Alliance for a Local Economy (HALE) in partnership with the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association (Hilo DIA) is launching a pilot Think Local, Buy Local campaign during Black & White Night Downtown Hilo on November 4, 2011 at 5pm.
Black & White Night/Think Local, Buy Local buttons offer Hawai‘i Island residents discounts at locally owned businesses throughout the holiday season. Buttons are $5-available and are available at Black & White Night and in advance at the Hilo Information Center; Palace Theatre; Diabolik Surf & Glass; Bayfront Coffee, Kava, and Tea Co.; and Basically Books.
During the holiday season, the Think Local, Buy Local campaign will be highlighting local products and services offered by 30 locally owned businesses in downtown Hilo.
“The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association has been helping locally owned businesses thrive in downtown Hilo for 49 years. Black & White night is a major economic development event, bringing over 10,000 people to downtown Hilo businesses each year,” says Alice Moon, Executive Director of the Hilo DIA, “The partnership with Think Local, Buy Local helps raise awareness about the many locally made products, foods and services available by locally owned businesses in downtown Hilo.”
In a consumer survey conducted by HALE, Hawai‘i Island residents indicated they felt a personal obligation to purchase locally produced goods and services for many reasons: “it helps the local economy”, “want to help the local farmers, merchants, and businesses succeed”, ”keeps jobs and money here”, “is better for the environment”, “we need to support our neighbors” and “local products are usually better—especially food.”
The Think Local, Buy Local pilot campaign is funded by the County of Hawai‘i, Office of Research and Development. “During challenging economic times, we feel that it is even more important than ever to find creative ways to grow our local economy”, says Randy Kurohara, Director of the County of Hawai‘i Office of Research and Development. “We believe that keeping local dollars circulating in the local economy is an investment in the social, environmental and economic strength of our communities. ”
In a survey of approximately 200 Hawai‘i Island owned businesses, 70% of respondents said they would like to “increase my percentage of locally sourced goods and services.”
“We all know that most of our goods are shipped in on barges and therefore a lot of our dollars are shipped back out with our purchases, “ says Andrea Dean Project Coordinator for HALE and the Think Local, Buy Local campaign, “Steering the ship away from an import based economy and towards a strong local economy can be done by having many hands on deck. In recent years, more residents and business owners have been dedicating a portion of their budgets to locally made and grown products and it has been inspiring to see many cottage industries grow.”
The Hawai‘i Alliance for a Local Economy (HALE) is an emerging alliance of local businesses, non-profits, government, community leaders and residents who believe that local, independent businesses are the foundation of a local living economy.
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Obama to Meet with Canada Prime Minister and Mexico President for the North American Leaders’s Summit in Honolulu
Posted on October 28, 2011 by Damon
President Obama will host Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and President Felipe Calderon of Mexico for the North American Leaders’ Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 13, 2011.
US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Mexican President Felipe Calderón (AFP/File, Mandel Ngan)
The meeting will build on wide-ranging, on-going cooperation among the United States, Canada, and Mexico with a particular focus on competitiveness, citizen security, energy and climate change, and North America’s role in the Americas as well as in global economic, political, and security issues. The last North American Leaders’ Summit was hosted by President Calderon in Guadalajara in August 2009
Filed under: Announcements, Economy, National Affairs, Politics | Tagged: APEC, Honolulu, North American Leaders Summit, President Calderon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper | Leave a Comment »
