Today's Date:  Memorial Day, Monday May 25th, 2009

WELCOME to the NEW FLORIDA Friends Web Site !!!

Florida Friends 4th Symposium A Hit !!!!!

The Florida Friends of the American Fighter Aces Association held their Fourth Symposium and 2nd of the young year at the "Fantasy of Flight" Museum in Polk City on Saturday May 2nd.  In attendance was P-40 Ace Col. Robert Liles of the 51st Fighter Group, Hellcat Ace Lt. Ben Amsden of VF-22 aboard the USS Cowpens, and Hellcat Ace Cmdr. Charles Haverland of VF-20 aboard the USS Enterprise and USS Lexington in front of a audience of approximately 200 aviation history enthusiasts in the Mission briefing room at "Fantasy of Flight" museum.   

(L-R) Bob Liles 51st FG, Ben Amsden VF-22, and Chuck Haverland VF-20 in the "Mission Briefing Room" at "The Fantasy of Flight" Museum in Polk City, Florida May 2nd, 2009.

A great time was had by all at the May 2nd Symposium as Florida Friends President Gregg Wagner introduced each of the Aces to the audience of young and old alike.  Gregg gave a short biography of each Ace's career, and then proceeded to moderate the event which had many great stories of courage and valor.  The event was professionally taped by Orlando WFTV Channel 9 which is the Orlando ABC affiliate and will be part of a 4th of July TV special, and an audio version was taken as well to be archived in the Florida Friends database.  As the Florida Friends web site expands, will be featuring audio and video-taped portions of all its Symposiums.

The following is a very brief summary of each Ace's response to the questions asked.

Col. Robert Liles (51st FG 16th FS 5.0 Victories)

Bob Liles was asked about a joint mission in which the 51st Fighter Group and the 23rd participated in Hengyang, China in July of 1942.  Liles told the audience how John Alison was aggressively attacking  incoming Japanese Type 97 bombers when Alison downed two and damaged another, but took on heavy return fire from the gunners of the Sally Bombers he was

The following Fighter Aces are scheduled to appear Saturday May 2nd for our next Symposium:

Col. Robert L. Liles - 51st Fighter Group, 16th Fighter Squadron, 5 Aerial Victories all in the P-40K "Warhawk". CONFIRMED PANELIST

Cmdr Ben Amsden - VF 22 (USS Cowpens), 5.0 Aerial Victories flying the F6F "Hellcat".  CONFIRMED PANELIST

Cmdr Charles Haverland - VF 20 (USS Enterprise and USS Lexington), 6.5 Aerial Victories all in the F6F Hellcat.  CONFIRMED  PANELIST

Lt. Col. A.T. House - 49th Fighter Group, 7th Fighter Squadron, 5 Aerial Victories all in the P-40 "Warhawk".  CONFIRMED PANELIST

If you have any questions you can email us at: wagnergp2@yahoo.com .

The Florida Friends hope to have several Symposium's in 2009 at the "Fantasy of Flight" museum.  Last year we had over 100 aviation enthusiasts at this event and Mr. Weeks flew the P-51C Mustang in Lee Archer's personal markings for all of us to enjoy.  Wow!!!  Pictures of last years event can be found by clicking on this link of Don Bryan's P-51 . 

The "Fantasy of Flight" web site is at http://www.fantasyofflight.com/.

Keystone Heights, Florida "Wings of Dreams Museum" Symposium another Great Success!!

The Florida Friends of the American Fighter Aces Association held their 3rd Symposium at the "Wings of Dreams Museum" weekend Air Show on February 21st, 2009 at the Keystone Heights Airport.  Over 300 people attended the Symposium with Aces John Bolyard of the 23rd Fighter Group, Charles Haverland VF-20, A.T. House of the 49th Fighter Group, and 31st Fighter Group Pilot Tom Hardeman.

(L-R) Tom Hardeman, John Bolyard, Chuck Haverland, and A.T. House

Florida Friends President Gregg Wagner moderated the 2 hour Symposium event were the pilots described some of their more memorable combat experiences and some of performance characteristics the of the fighters they flew in against the Japanese and Luftwaffe.  The audience followed up with some great questions and even the WASP's (Woman AirForce Service Pilots) joined in.  There were many great stories told by the aces, Chuck Haverland Please click on the button to see some of the Photos taken at this event. 

The rest of the story is Under Construction.... 

PAST Symposium Lineup and Announcements

Keystone Heights "Wings of Dreams Museum" Symposium held February 21st, 2009.  Click on John Bolyard's P-40 .

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