Confederate Air Force changes name

ATLANTA - After 44 years, the Confederate Air Force has dropped the Civil War reference from its name. It&#39;s now known as the Commemorative Air Force. <br> <br> Members said the word `Confederate&#39; didn&#39;t fly when the group sought corporate donations to help keep its fleet airborne. <br> <br> The 11,000-member organization restores and flies more than 140 airplanes in 27 states and four foreign countries. According to CAF headquarters in Midland, Texas, the organization draws millions of people to its museum, air shows and demonstrations each year. <br> <br> Many members are retired military and commercial aviators. <br> <br> Jake Tryon, an official with the Air Force says member donations aren&#39;t sufficient to keep the planes flying. <br> <br> Tryon commands the 200-member CAF Dixie Wing in Peachtree City. The wing&#39;s flagship -- a Douglas dive bomber famous for its role in the Battle of Midway -- cost $90,000 to restore. <br> <br> The vote to drop Confederate won with an 82 percent majority in October 2000. The group adopted the new name last year. Some members resigned in protest.