World War II aircraft fly over a picture of Tuskegee Airman Robert Friend during a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The children of Tuskegee Airman Robert Friend; Robert Friend,Jr., left, Dana Friend, Karen Crumlich and Thelma Hoffman, right, during a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, right, chats with Thelma Hoffman, as she and her siblings, Robert Friend,Jr., left, Dana Friend and Karen Crumlich, participate in a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Robert Friend,Jr., son of Tuskegee Airman Robert Friend the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Vince Crecere wears a shirt remember his friend, Robert Friend, during a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

World War II aircraft fly over a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two T6s and a P51 fly over a ceremony for the dedication of the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Friend died in 2019 and age 99. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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He piloted 142 combat missions in World War II as one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.  And now Robert J. Friend’s service will be memorialized with his name on an Irvine post office.

On Thursday, Aug. 25, about 75 friends and family gathered as U.S. Rep. Katie Porter unveiled a mock-up of a plaque naming the postal branch at 1 League as the Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building.

Friend, who had lived in Irvine since 1972, died in 2019 at age 99.

As Friend’s oldest daughter, Thelma Hoffman, started to address to the crowd, a flight of aircraft, two T6s and a P51, flew over the ceremony. The aircraft, from the Palm Springs Air Museum, represent planes the Tuskegee Airmen trained in and flew on missions. He was also a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Hoffman referred to her father as, “living, breathing history” recalling how, besides being among the 355 pilots who served in the famed all-Black Air Force unit, he also served as director of Project Blue Book, investigating UFOs. Hoffman said her father couldn’t really talk about what he did on the project, but, “what he did tell us… the stories were just amazing.”

In describing her father, Hoffman said he loved spending his twilight years going to events and talking about his life in American history. She emphasized that most importantly, to her, “he was a wonderful and loving dad … and grandfather, and great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, as well as a father figure to many others.”

Retired U.S. Marine Major Robert J. Friend, Jr., said that even though his dad worked in other cities, “Irvine was always (his) home,” joking that his dad knew every restaurant in town, including his favorite rib joint and the best breakfast place.

Bobby McDonald, a trooper in the Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, said Friend’s Orange County influence wasn’t limited to Irvine. He remembers when Heroes Hall opened in Costa Mesa, Friend represented the Air Force while digging the ceremonial first shovel and then he raised the Air Force flag when the building was completed.

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