Public Affairs garners 2008 AETC communication effectiveness award

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  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Air Education and Training Command recently announced the winners of the 2008 AETC Public Affairs Achievement Awards.

The 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs office was awarded the Maj. Henry "Hap" Arnold Award for Public Affairs Communication Effectiveness. The award was for the retirement of the T-37 "Tweet" from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot training in April 2008.

The Public Affairs goal was to highlight the T-37 Tweet and its 50-year-career by creating a farewell deserving of the venerable aircraft. Up until April 2008, nearly every pilot in the United States Air Force had begun their Air Force flying career in the T-37. The T-37 became operational in 1956.
The retirement ceremony featured information on the Tweet's career and heritage, an address from the 19 Air Force Commander, a presentation of the artwork, and a formation flight of four T-37s.

Mr. Keith Ferris, a 47-year veteran of the Air Force Art Program and acclaimed aviation artist, was commissioned to create a painting to capture the spirit of the T-37's contribution to pilot training. His painting, "A Rite of Passage" was presented by him and Mr. Russell Kirk, Air Force Art Program office, at the ceremony. Ironically, the last paint scheme of the T-37 was designed by Mr. Ferris to aid in visibility during traffic pattern and formation operations.

In addition, PA requested and received approval from Mr. Ferris to commission 37 lithograph copies of the painting, ordered, signed and numbered by the artist and given out to various individuals involved in the retirement program. For example, 14 FTW Historian was presented number 14, 19th Air Force Commander was presented number 19 and the 37th Flying Training Squadron commander was presented with number 37.

The aircraft that flew the last T-37B SUPT sortie had a patch depicting the "That's All Folks" Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.'s character, Tweety Bird ™© on the fuselage. Warner Brothers had previously allowed the last T-37 SUPT class to use the cartoon character in their class patch. Working with the base Legal Office, Columbus AFB secured the future rights to use the patch for the retirement activities.

A final formation of four Columbus Air Force Base T-37Bs flew over the ceremony, the last time a flight of four Tweets, would grace the skies over Columbus AFB.
Finally, three television networks covered the event (CBS, Fox, AU-TV), as well as Mississippi Public Radio and four newspapers.

The award is named for the only Air Force public affairs officer to attain the rank of General of the Air Force. As a major, General Arnold was chief of the Information Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, where he used his position to advocate for air power. It is awarded to the most effective communication support to an Air Force event.


For a full list of AETC Public Affairs Excellence Award winners, please visit www.aetc.af.mil.