I think most of the “rank-and-file” members were against renaming the Confederate Air Force to the more PC Commemorative Air Force. I want to emphasize that I in no way speak for the national organization, I am just relaying what others have told me. The decision to rename was years before my time in the CAF.
But, my own view is this: the Confederacy is a nearly perfect analog to the modern CAF. Why? Because the Confederacy was always scrambling to find resources, men and material. That is exactly what we go through. Where does one go to buy tires for a B-24 or a B-29? Discount Tires can’t help us. Where does one go to find an engine for a B-24 or a B-29? That’s what we face. The comparison to the Confederacy is pretty much dead-on.
I was told that the issue was this: with the old name it became increasingly difficult to raise money from corporate donors. The shakedown artists Jesse and Al won the battle, and history lost.
That is what I heard, at meetings leading up to the vote.