CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE CHOOSES
COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE
AS NEW NAME

Midland, Texas (Dec. 7, 2001) - The membership of the Confederate Air Force has selected Commemorative Air Force (CAF) as the new name for the organization. CAF officials announced at a press conference, 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, that of 1,945 votes cast, 54 percent voted to approve Commemorative Air Force as the new name of the organization. Other names on the ballot included Ghost Squadron, Heritage Air Force and Heritage Flying Museum. Ghost Squadron received 34 percent of the votes - the second highest percentage.

The new name was selected as the result of a vote by CAF members taken at the organization's general membership meeting held Oct. 5, 2001, in Midland, Texas. Members also had the opportunity to vote by absentee ballot. Members eligible to vote included Colonels and lifetime members. Results of the vote were tallied by the auditing firm of Elms Faris & Company of Midland and Odessa, Texas.

Changing the name was first discussed in July 1999 and again in February 2000. Many members were of the opinion that the name did not accurately reflect the primary objectives of the organization which are: 1) to restore, maintain, and fly World War II aircraft; 2) to maintain museum facilities for aircraft as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who built, serviced, and flew the planes; and 3) to perpetuate in the memory and hearts of all Americans, the spirit in which these great planes were flown in the defense of this nation.

CAF members voted overwhelmingly to change the name of the organization at a vote held Oct. 6, 2000 at CAF Headquarters. Of those who voted, 82 percent were in favor of the name change.

The CAF has over 11,000 members in 27 states and four countries and has retained its original name since its inception in 1957. The new name will officially take effect January 2002.

For more information, contact Tina Corbett at (432) 563-1000, ext. 2231 or visit www.confederateairforce.org.

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