UPDATE: Rosslyn Renaissance and the Air Force Association Present: Celebrating 60 Years of Air Force History: The Flying Tigers

ARLINGTON, Va, May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association and Rosslyn Renaissance, will honor the 60th Anniversary of the United States Air Force with a discussion of the famed Flying Tigers of World War II with Flying Tiger pilots, John Alison and Don Lopez. The discussion is part of the Rosslyn Renaissance 2007 "Rooms with a View" lecture series. The event is free, but reservations are requested. Complimentary refreshments are provided at the start of the event by The Boeing Company.

Alison joined the Army Air Corps prior to WWII and demonstrated the P-40 for Claire Chennault and the Chinese delegation who were looking to buy airplanes for what would become the famed American Volunteer Group, the Flying Tigers. Alison was transferred to the 75th Fighter Squadron of the Flying Tigers in China. In just over a year, Alison became the squadron commander and was credited with seven aircraft destroyed. In 1944, Alison was transferred to serve as the deputy commander of the aerial invasion of Burma and served as a pioneer in the advent of Air Force Special Operations. During the last year of the war, Alison participated in the invasion of the Philippines and in air operations against Japan.

Following WWII, Alison served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics in the Truman administration and rose to the rank of Major General in the Air Force Reserve. Today he runs his own company and continues to remain active in many pursuits.

Don Lopez volunteered for the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor and in October of 1943, was assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron of the Flying Tigers. He completed his tour after 101 combat missions in 1945, having scored 5 air victories.

After the war, Lopez became a test pilot, highly involved in the testing and evaluation of the first generation of jet aircraft in the US Air Force. Lopez was also deeply involved in the Apollo moon missions and Skylab program. He later became Deputy Director of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, a position in which he continues to serve today.

Registration: The event is free but registration is required. To register call Rosslyn Renaissance at 703/522-6628 or go to http://www.RosslynVA.org/RoomsWithaView.

    Where: The Boeing Conference Center
           1200 Wilson Blvd
           Rosslyn, Virginia 22209.

    Nearest Metro Station: Rossyln

    When:  Wednesday, May 23, 2007
           Presentation: 6:00 p.m.

    Media Contact: Chet Curtis Phone: 703-247-5850
    E-mail: ccurtis@afa.org

-- NOTE TO EDITORS: Update -- registration information added; registration for this event is required.