Mark Carlson

The Marines’ Lost Squadron: The Odyssey of VMF-422

The last great secret of World War II–for more than seventy years, the true account of the worst non-combat loss of a Marine fighter squadron has been suppressed and ignored. Now, the story can be told.

After four years of research, interviews with veterans, and study of previously classified, official documents, aviation historian Mark Carlson has uncovered what happened to VMF-422 on a seemingly calm day over the south Pacific on a routine ferry flight from Tarawa to Funafuti. They were intended to join the huge campaign to invade the Marshall Islands, but instead were thrust into the core of a tragedy that has entered history as the Flintlock Disaster.

Mark Carlson, author of three books and over two hundred articles, presents the gripping saga of how twenty-three young Marine pilots were faced with bad leadership, the fury of nature, and the heavy hand of fate in a desperate fight for survival in the Pacific War. With rare wartime photos and a gripping narrative, Carlson will tell you what really happened.

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Sgt Mark Cannon, CHP

CHP Air Operations at TRM

The History of the California Highway Patrol Air Operations located at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal, California and what the unit has evolved into today.

Sergeant Mark Cannon has many stories to tell about his experiences in law enforcement and in air operations serving our state. He is a 34-year veteran of the CHP, a fixed-wing pilot, Aerial Supervisor, and founding member at the CHP Thermal Air Operations unit.

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Jonna Doolittle
Granddaughter of Jimmy Doolittle

Life with my grandfather, “Gramps” Jimmy Doolittle

Jonna Doolittle is an educator, author and advisor to Hollywood for several TV programs. She is working on a third book that will include interviews with other World War II veterans including Major General Johnny Alison. She serves on the board of directors for the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho, and the Air Force Historical Foundation.

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Tom Nolan

Palm Springs International Airport Update: A to Z

Thomas Nolan, A.A.E. will provide another colorful update to all the cool stuff going on at the Palm Springs. It’s been a few years since his last very popular presentation, and you won’t want to miss this one.

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Pete Fleury

Pan American Airways Africa Ltd (1941-1942)

Pete Fleury spent more than 20 years flying for the US Army and Army National Guard, including 2 tours in Vietnam. His aerospace career spanned 26 years with Rockwell International and the Boeing Company, modernizing military aircraft in service worldwide. Helicopter qualifications include the CH-47 Chinook, UH-1 Iroquois, OH-58, OH-13, and OH-23. Airplane qualifications include Cessna 150, Piper PA-28, and Mooney M-20E, with IFR certification.

Pan American formed a subsidiary, contracted by the US and British governments, in mid 1941 to develop an air transport network across middle Africa to Cairo to resupply British combat units engaged with German ground and air forces. Pan Am further ferried US military lend lease aircraft from the US to Africa, Pakistan, and China. More than 1000 American men were thus engaged in WWII before Pearl Harbor and the formal US entry into the war.

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Lt. Col. Blaine Mack, US Army (Ret.)

“WWII Background Stories of Dick Bong, Tommy McGuire and Charles Lindbergh”

Blaine Mack holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Oregon State University and a Master of Education degree in Music from Lewis & Clark College.

He entered the U.S. Army at Santa Ana Army Air Base as an Aviation Cadet April 10, 1943, graduating February 8, 1944 at Luke Field, Arizona, at the age of 19, where he received his coveted wings and his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, becoming the youngest pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force.

He served 16 months in the Aleutian Islands flying P-38s, first with the 11th Fighter Squadron, 343rd Fighter Group, before being transferred to the group headquarters, where he completed his tour as Group Operations Officer.

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Admiral Pete Pettigrew USN (Ret.)

Top Gun (1985) Behind the Scenes

“…you’re making a mistake with that… older man…”

Vietnam War veteran, Rear Admiral Pete “Viper” Pettigrew was a Top Gun instructor and the technical advisor for the Tom Cruise hit Top Gun, as well as being the guy in the bar that Kelly McGillis was sitting with after Maverick’s “You Lost that Lovin’ Feeling”.

RADM Kenneth “Pete” W. Pettigrew is a native of Glencoe, Illinois. He graduated from Stanford University in June 1964, under the Regular NROTC Program with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Science. He reported to flight training in November, 1964 and was designated a naval aviator in June 1966.

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Dr. Quinn Kennedy

Sneaky peaks and foggy vision: Who decides to land in IMC

Dr. Kennedy will describe recent studies conducted at the Stanford University/VA Aviation Research Lab that have investigated how pilot age, expertise, and visual function influence the decision to land under simulated IFR weather conditions.

Dr. Quinn Kennedy received a PhD in Psychology as well as completing postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Dr. Kennedy conducts behavioral science research that investigates a variety of individual difference factors that affect aviator decision making and performance, such as expertise, risk perception, cognitive ability, and visual scan patterns. Her work with the Stanford/VA Aviation Research Lab has informed public policy regarding the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots as well as recommended guidelines for older pilots.

Dr. Kennedy is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Research Fellowship, Margret M. Baltes Doctoral Dissertation Award, and the National Institute of Health Research Minority Supplement Grant Award. With her collaborators, her work has received media attention from Channel 2 news, APA Monitor, Aviation Week, NPR, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Science.

Mark Copeland
Former President, 8th Air Force Historical Society

“8th Air Force Berlin Bombing Missions of 1944”

Mark Copeland presents unrevealed details of the 8th AF bombing raids into Germany in 1944 and 1945 based on his private interviews with veteran crews. His stories were acquired through years of dedication to them and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, where he has served as the National President, Board Member and as an Honorary Life Member. He serves on the Executive Committee of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, is a Historical Consultant for five international war historical museums and is the Chief Historical Consultant for Military Gallery. He has published dozens of articles for aviation magazines and historical groups. He serves as a Program Director for aviation operations near Minneapolis.