SEATTLE, Jan. 26, 2017--On Feb. 2, Free First Thursday from 5-9 p.m. the Museum celebrates the "Year of the Rooster" with fun family activities, plus music performed by the Seattle Chinese Chorus, 7:30-9 p.m. From 5:15-7:15 p.m. there will be a special event about the secret missions flown by the Republic of China Air Force for the Americans during the Cold War-the Black Cat and Black Bat missions. There will also be complimentary popcorn at the events by Pop! Gourmet.

Cold War Secret Missions of the Republic of China Air Force:
The Black Cats and Black Bats
5:15 to 7:15 p.m.
The program will be a rare gathering of former Republic of China Air Force flight crew members who flew the planes and planned the missions they couldn't talk about for years. Distinguished panelists will include pilots who of the notorious U-2 spyplane and the P2V Neptune, their descendants and aviation historians. One of the speakers at the event, retired U.S. Navy Captain Jim Winn recalls, "Of the Chinese crews I was honored to train, I can state that their desire and ability to master the aircraft was beyond comparison in my experience."

The Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Vincent C.H. Yao will be a special guest speaker.

Introduction by Anchi Tan Miller
Welcome by Vincent C. H. Yao, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Seattle
Black Cat and Black Bat Review by Li Wang, Aviation Historian
P2V and Black Bat by Jim Winn, retired U.S. Navy
"Soldier, Hero, Family Man: Remembering Tsoming Ho" by Kelly Liu
"My Father Jinding Yin - Black Bat P2V Pilot" by Sara Yin

Panel discussion moderated by Anchi Tan Miller:
Johnny Shen, Black Cat mission U-2 pilot
Cheng Wei, Black Cat mission U-2 pilot
Jim Winn, US Navy P2V Black Bat operation supervisor
Kelly Liu, granddaughter of Tsoming Ho, Black Bat mission P2V navigator
Sara Yin, daughter of Jinding Yin, Black Bat mission P2V pilot
Li Wang, aviation historian

"Honor our Heroes" award presentation, Vincent C. H. Yao, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Seattle



Black Cats
Images- Top: Republic of China Air Force U-2 pilot Col. Chen Wai. Bottom: Three of the first Republic of China Air Force U-2 pilots trained in the U.S. in 1959. Photos courtesy Li Wang.



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Founded in 1965, the independent, nonprofit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving more than 560,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, from the first fighter plane (1914) to today's 787 Dreamliner. Attractions at the 20-acre, 5-building Seattle campus include the original Boeing Company factory, and the only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer.



With a foundation of aviation history, the Museum is also a hub of news and dialogue with leaders in the emerging field of private spaceflight ventures. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's onsite and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission for adults is $23.00 on-site and $21.00 online. Youth 5 through 17 are $14.00 on-site and $13 online, youth 4 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over $19 on-site and $18 online. Groups of ten or more: $21.00 per adult, $13.00 per youth, Thanks to Wells Fargo, on the first Thursday of every month, admission is free from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. And parking is always free. There is a full lunch menu café in the Museum and a limited menu café in the Aviation Pavilion, both operated by McCormick & Schmick's. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org

Ted Huetter
Senior Public Relations Manager
206.455.5360



Rachel Dreeben
Associate Manager, Marketing and Communications
206.768.7201