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.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 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 museumofflight.org