The Museum welcomes the Lunar New Year - Year of the Rooster - on Wells Fargo Free First Thursday with fun family activities, plus music performed by the Seattle Chinese Chorus. There will also be a special two-hour event about the secret missions flown by the Taiwan Air Force for the Americans during the Cold War—the Black Cat and Black Bat missions. Enjoy free Sriracha Popcorn donated by POP! Gourmet Foods. All events are free.


Schedule of Events

5:00 - 9:00 PM - Lunar New Year-themed family activities
(Lobby, Alaska Airlines Aerospace Education Center)


5:15 - 7:15 PM - Cold War Secret Missions of the Taiwanese Air Force:
The Black Cats and Black Bats Lecture and Panel
(Skyline Room)

The program will be a rare gathering of former Taiwanese flight crew members who flew the planes and planned the missions they couldn’t talk about for years. 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 introduce the program.

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, granddaughter of Tsoming Ho, Black Bat Mission P2V Navigator

“My Father Jinding Yin – Black Bat P2V Pilot”
by Sara Yin, daughter of Jinding Yin, Black Bat Mission P2V Pilot

Panel Discussion, moderated by Anchi Tan Miller
Panelists:
  • 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


7:30 - 9:00 PM - Seattle Chinese Chorus
(William M. Allen Theater)


FREE Admission 5:00 - 9:00 PM courtesy of Wells Fargo


(SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

On the first Thursday of each month, the Museum stays open late – and admission is FREE. Enjoy the Museum's Great Gallery, Personal Courage Wing and more from 5 - 9 PM, thanks to a generous grant from Wells Fargo.

The Museum Store and Wings Café also open for extended hours.