presentation Archives

Presentation: Leyte Gulf 80th October 26, 2024

Presentation: Leyte Gulf 80th October 26, 2024

Thank you for coming out to see our presentation honoring the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and about one of the most important aircraft of the related air battles, the F6F Hellcat, and the highest scoring Navy ace of WWII, David McCampbell.

The largest naval battle of World War II and by some criteria the largest naval battle in history. The carrier-based fighter with the highest kill ratio of any aircraft, ever. Third overall and the top scoring naval ace of WWII. Sounds like the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On Saturday October 26th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will conduct a presentation commemorating the 80th anniversary of this historic engagement. The discussion will include the four major components of the larger battle and the air war that raged over the surface actions, a dive into the magnificent Grumman F6F Hellcat and the role it played in the battle, and a look at the intense Pacific Theater combat experiences of David McCampbell, Commander of Air Group-15 aboard the USS Essex during this momentous clash of titans.

Thank you for your help to “Keep ’em Flying!”

Col Will Cunningham2024-12-02T14:19:23-07:00September 24th, 2024|News|

Presentation: Surf When You Can, September 14, 2024

Presentation: Surf When You Can, September 14, 2024

Thank you for coming out to see our presentation with Retired Navy Captain Brett Crozier. The video replay is below.

Retired Navy Captain Brett Crozier graduated from the United States Naval Academy and embarked on a thirty-year career in the Navy, flying dozens of combat missions over Iraq and leading at the highest levels of operational command. He served as the Commanding Officer of a combat F/A-18 strike fighter squadron and ultimately commanded the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt before retiring from the Navy in 2022. On Saturday September 14th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host Captain Crozier as he takes us on the grand adventures of his extraordinary career and introduces the incredible people he met along the way. Copies if his book “Surf When You Can” will be available. The event will conclude, weather, operations, and maintenance permitting, with CAF SoCal conducting a ride flight in their PBJ. Come hear Captain Brett Crozier share his inspiring lessons from a lifetime of honor, service, and leadership.

Thank you for your support to Keep ’em Flying!

Col Will Cunningham2024-09-24T19:42:41-07:00August 27th, 2024|News|

Presentation: F-35 with Oli Payne, July 6th

Presentation: F-35 with Oli Payne, July 6th

Oli Payne / F-35 Presentation, July 06, 2024

Thank you all who came out to see this amazing presentation – check back for the video replay coming soon.

Though still a young man, Oil Payne has had a long and fascinating journey through aviation. Now a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force, Oli’s journey has landed him as the UK F-35 Test Lead, managing and supervising UK F-35 test activities at Edwards AFB. On Saturday July 6th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host Squadron Leader Payne as he chronicles his distinctive adventures in flight, culminating with a few tales of the F-35. Come hear about RAF Squadron Leader Oli Payne’s captivating ride through aviation to the pinnacle of high performance military aircraft.

Thank You – your support helps us “Keep ’em Flying”

Col Will Cunningham2024-08-27T20:40:29-07:00June 19th, 2024|News|

Presentation: D-Day 80th Anniversary, June 08, 2024 11am

Presentation: D-Day 80th Anniversary, June 08, 2024 11am

D-Day 80^th Anniversary, June 08, 2024

This upcoming June 6th marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most pivotal events in military history, D-Day, the amphibious invasion of German-occupied Northwest France in June 1944. On Saturday June 8th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host an event commemorating this historic event and the Marine Corps’ PBJ Mitchell, North American’s workhorse twin-engine medium bomber. We’ll have an exciting presentation for you and on display a diverse array of D-Day relevant aircraft, vehicles, and reenactors including the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, C-47 Skytrain, Dodge Power Wagon, M-113 APC, a WWII Jeep, and paratroopers. And we’ll conclude the event, weather, operations, and maintenance permitting, by flying the PBJ for you. Come hear about the assault that pierced Hitler’s Fortress Europe and see a few examples of the men and machines that made it happen.

11am to 2pm at the museum – $15.00 per person donation requested.

Thank you for your ongoing support to help “Keep ’em flying”

Col Will Cunningham2024-06-19T16:04:34-07:00April 29th, 2024|News|

Presentation: ‘Sundown to Eleven’ May 11, 2024

Presentation: ‘Sundown to Eleven’ May 11, 2024

‘Sundown to Eleven’ Presentation, May 11, 2024

Independent filmmaker, director, and producer George Retelas was close to his grandfather. After his grandfather’s passing George found his WWII journal and its contents inspired and launched George on a journey to connect with his grandfather’s wartime comrades. On Saturday May 11th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport will host George as he gives us a behind the scenes look at the making of his reflective documentaries, splicing together pieces of his film “Eleven,” a story about Hellcat-equipped Air Group 11 told by eleven surviving Air Group 11 veterans, and his current project that includes the heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of a daughter and a teddy bear. Come hear George’s fascinating journey to connect to those involved in a titanic struggle 80 years ago and the closure he helped uncover for the family of a fallen warrior.

11am to 2pm at the museum – $15.00 per person donation requested.

Thank you for your ongoing support to help “Keep ’em flying”

Col Will Cunningham2024-06-19T16:05:26-07:00April 4th, 2024|News|

Presentation: Zero First Flight – April 27, 2024 11am

Presentation: Zero First Flight – April 27, 2024 11am

First Flight / Zero Presentation, April 27, 2024

April 1st, 1939, Kagamigahara Air Base outside Nagoya, Japan, the first Mitsubishi A6M1 prototype takes to the air with test pilot Katsuzo Shima at the controls. The test flight goes well, with only a slight tendency to vibrate noted, corrected by changing from a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller to a three-bladed constant speed Hamilton-Standard propeller license built under agreement with the US company. Mid-1943, the Solomons, enter the US P-38 Lightning and the Vought F4U Corsair, and things start going south. In between, the Zero rules!

On Saturday April 27th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport conducted a presentation remembering the 85th anniversary of that first flight of the Zero. Thank you to all who came out to hear about the legendary start and subsequent painful ending of the iconic Imperial Japanese Navy’s A6M Type 00 fighter.

Video replay coming soon, please check back often – Thank you! Your support helps “Keep ’em flying!”

Col Will Cunningham2024-04-29T19:34:50-07:00March 9th, 2024|News|

Presentation: The U2 Spy Pilot, March 16

Presentation: The U2 Spy Pilot, March 16

Spy Pilot / U-2 Presentation, March 16, 2024

Thank you for coming out to see our recent presentation.

The son of famed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers presents the facts and dispels misinformation about the Cold War espionage program that turned his father into a Cold War icon, having been shot down in a U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union in May 1960. On his return to the United States, Powers was exonerated of any wrongdoing while imprisoned in Russia, yet a cloud of controversy lingered until his untimely death in 1977. On Saturday March 16th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport is hosting the son, Francis Gary Powers Jr., who has written a new account of Powers’ life, delving into old audio tapes, letters his father wrote and received while imprisoned in the Soviet Union, the transcript of his father’s debriefing by the CIA, other recently declassified documents about the U-2 program, and interviews with the spy pilot’s contemporaries. Come hear about this and the son’s journey to understand his father, pursuing justice and a measure of peace. Almost sixty years after the fact, this is a fascinating piece of Cold War history.

We are working on the video replay, but for now please check out his website at: http://garypowers.com/

Col Will Cunningham2024-04-04T19:18:47-07:00January 23rd, 2024|News|

Presentation: Vietnam Stories with Dan Petkunas Video Replay

Presentation: Vietnam Stories with Dan Petkunas Video Replay

Video Replay: Vietnam Presentation, February 24, 2024

Over the course of his twenty-four-year military career, Lt Col Dan Petkunas has received three Distinguished Flying Crosses and eighteen Air Medals. He is a veteran F-4 Phantom Weapons Systems officer with over 200 combat missions in Vietnam. On Saturday February 24th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted Dan for one of his entertaining talks. In his presentation Dan described the F-4 Phantom and some of his stories from the Vietnam War. He educates and entertains, eliciting audience laughs from his life-threatening situations. Here is the video replay for your enjoyment:

Col Will Cunningham2024-03-09T12:58:25-07:00January 3rd, 2024|News|

Presentation – Charlie Plumb Video Replay

Presentation – Charlie Plumb Video Replay

Charlie Plumb Presentation – Video Replay

Vietnam vet, fighter pilot, POW. Now one of the most sought-after achievement speakers of his time, Charlie Plumb’s presentations are as he is: sincere, straightforward, humorous, and tailored to motivate each specific audience he encounters. On Saturday December 9th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted Charlie for one of his riveting talks. His insights on how to cope with the difficulties as well as the opportunities in life have a positive impact on those who hear his message, those who read his books, and those who come to know him as a friend. Thank yo for coming out to hear him speak.

Please enjoy the video replay.

Col Will Cunningham2023-12-14T21:06:45-07:00November 24th, 2023|News|

Presentation Video Replay – The Utilities Unsung Heroes

Presentation Video Replay – The Utilities Unsung Heroes

Utilities Presentation, Video Replay

Unsung heroes. Behind the scenes, unheralded workhorses that played just as pivotal a role in the outcome of World War II as the front-line fighters and bombers. On Saturday November 4th the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing at the Camarillo Airport hosted an event focused on three of these noteworthy toilers, the Fairchild F-24 Argus, the North American L-17 Navion, and the Alon YO-55 Aircoupe. The presentation covered notable aspects and history of these aircraft, remarkable in their own right, and their impact on the war effort.

Enjoy the replay here:

Col Will Cunningham2023-11-24T21:30:14-07:00October 4th, 2023|News|