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Projects and activities of the SAAHF in the United States and China, 1999 - 2004: · Assisted its chief Chinese associate organizations, the China Association for Expedition, in its efforts to located the lost Curtiss P-40 AVG Wingman John Blackburn, in Kunming China’s Lake Dianchi. · Successfully nominated the American Volunteer Group the “Flying Tigers” to receive the U.S. National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 1999 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award. · Successfully nominated Second World War Chinese-American fighter ace Arthur Chin to the American Combat Airman’s Hall of Fame. · Coordinated the historic meeting in Shanghai, China between American Air Force F-86 fighter ace, Colonel Harold Fischer and Chinese Air Force MiG-15 fighter ace, Lt. General Han Decai, these two jet fighter aces had first met in the skies above the Yalu River during the Korean War. · In mid-1999, the Foundation co-sponsored the Los Angeles, California performance of the Chinese Air Force’s Blue Sky Children’s Art Ensemble. · In November 1999, the Foundation co-sponsored with the Santa Monica, California Museum of Flying, a Veterans Day celebration that saluted Second World War airmen who fought in the China Burma and India Theaters of Operation. SAAHF Founding Board Members who represented the American Volunteer Group, the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), the14th Air Force and the 1st Air Commando Group participated in a symposium that explored the accomplishment of American and Chinese airmen who fought in the China, Burma, India Theater, (The CBI.) The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles, Mr. Han Wenbin, delivered the event’s opening address. · In March 2001, the Foundation participated with the Santa Monica Museum of Flying and the Asia Pacific Museum to salute Chinese/American aviation pioneer Kathrine Cheung. The SAAHF coordinated the participation of the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles in the event and presented an exhibition of aviation fine art by the Foundation’s Artist-in-Residence, Roy Grinnell. · In May 2001, the Foundation presented its Arthur Chin Aviation Achievement Award to the American Volunteer Group at the AVG’s 60th Anniversary Reunion at the Seattle Museum of Flight. Flying Tigers Association President and AVG fighter ace John “Dick” Rossi accepted the award on behalf of the Flying Tigers Association. · In September 2001, six members of the SAAHF were invited to Beijing to participate in a symposium at the Museum Of The War Of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japan, that explored and commemorated the accomplishments of Flying Tigers and the airmen who flew the “Hump Airlift” during the Second World War. Representing the U.S. and the SAAHF at the symposium were, AVG fighter Ace John “Dick” Rossi, AVG Flight Leader Erik Shilling and AVG Flight Leader Robert Raine. Following their AVG service, all three of these AVG veterans flew the “Hump” while flying for the China National Aviation Corporation. Also participating in this “first-of-its-kind,” |
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