Webinar: The Air Battle of Pearl Harbor

The strategic decision by the Empire of Japan to employ aircraft as the primary force in the Pearl Harbor attack changed the course of world history and military tactics forever. The few US Army Air Force pilots who got airborne that morning found themselves at the forefront of a new era in combat. Watch our discussion as special guests reveal remarkable insights into this critical historical moment when aircraft emerged as a decisive factor in warfare. This session features a conversation with Bryan Brown, son of one of the few US pilots who took flight during the December 7th attack. Moderated by the Museum's Senior Manager of Education, Lt. Col William "Spin" Spincola, USAF (Ret.). Guest Speakers: Bryan Brown: Son of WWII Ace, Harry Brown Bryan Brown, the son of Lt. Col. Harry W. Brown, who was among the few US pilots to take flight during the December 7th attack, shares vivid stories of his father’s heroic actions as a WWII pilot. Bryan pursued his education at UC Berkeley, earning a BSEE, and later an MBA from Stanford. His lifelong passion for aviation was sparked by the model planes his father brought home, leading him to amass an impressive collection of military training models. J Michael Wenger: Guest Historian J Michael Wenger, a prominent military historian, has made significant contributions to the understanding of Japanese carrier aviation in World War II. He has authored 15 books and numerous articles and is currently working on a six-volume series with Naval Institute Press, focusing on the Japanese attacks on Oahu during the war. Eric Pradel: WWII Historian With a degree in History focused on the Inter-War Period and WWII from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Eric Pradel has dedicated nearly 12 years to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, serving in roles from docent to researcher. His work encompasses research projects on events and aircraft from the pre-Pearl Harbor era to the present.