On Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m., Bolton Hall Museum will resume its Second Saturday Program Series with a very special guest speaker. Lt. Col. Robert Friend will come to the museum to talk about his life experiences. Lt. Col. Friend will also take questions from the audience. (Please email questions in advance to LittleLanders@verizon.net).

Robert (Bob) J. Friend was born in Columbia, South Carolina on Feb. 29, 1920.  At an early age, he demonstrated an interest in airplanes and read magazine stories about flying in World War I and built models that actually flew. During one of Charles Lindberg’s flights around the world, Lindberg advised the United States government that in Europe, especially Germany, people were being taught to fly. The United States decided to keep pace and instituted a program called Civilian Pilot Training – CPT. Friend, who was a sophomore at Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, applied for participation and earned a private pilot’s license in 1939. At that time the U.S. Army was not accepting applications for military flight training for non-whites. However, at the insistence of first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and others, a program was established at Tuskegee, Alabama to determine if non-whites could learn to fly the then-considered complex tactical aircraft of the U.S. Army. Friend applied in October 1942 and was accepted as an air cadet in the program.  

Upon receiving his wings as a military pilot, Friend was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and, following several weeks of transition into tactical aircraft, was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, which was to be stationed in the European Theatre of Operations. Friend became the primary wingman to Col. Benjamin O. Davis – commander of the 332nd Fighter Group. He first flew the P-47, but transitioned to flying the P-51 Mustang until the end of World War II, flying 142 missions. Friend also served as Operations Officer for the 301st squadron and was the last operations officer of the 332nd fighter group.  

Friend continued his education by obtaining a degree in astro physics under the Air Force Institute of Technology. He also completed many other specialized management courses including those at UCLA Business School, the U.S. Air Force Program Management Course, Special Weapons School and Air War College.  

After retiring from the United States Air Force in 1972, Lt. Col. Friend became the assistant to the president for Fairchild Stratus Companies in Manhattan Beach, overseeing the design and production of space products for the space shuttle. In his third career, he is currently executive vice president for the Stanford Mu Corporation in Los Angeles, which is a company that produces primary space components for the International Space Station and other satellite systems. Friend has been involved in research and development activities for over 50 years. These R&D activities are responsible for formulating, monitoring, evaluating and controlling programs and projects for scientific and technological application to meet USAF special weapons fire control systems and major missile systems strategic and tactical requirements.

Friend is a master bridge player who is well known and respected nationally; he competes in national tournaments in his spare time.

Lt. Col. spends his time traveling to different events to speak about his time as a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen Red Tails (he is one of 17 surviving Red Tail pilots). He also participates in events with Ride 2 Recovery. This group supports all veterans who are coming home and helps to get them back on the “right road.”

His is the recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal (2007), the Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three Distinguished Service Medals, and an Air Medal.

Lt. Col Friend resides in Irvine. He has eight children and numerous grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchildren.

All are invited on Sept. 9 and every second Saturday through June 2018 to learn about and enjoy the people who have a story to tell. Complete details can be found on the website at www.LittleLandersHistoricalSociety.org.