American Aces Died in 2007
 

Below are the American aces that I am aware of as having died in 2007, as of early August. The number after the name is his score. If the place of death notes "residence" I cannot be sure of the actual location of death; this comes from the Social Security Death Index, otherwise it comes from an obituary.


Camille Joseph ROSBERT 6 January 7, 2007 (residence: Katy, Texas)
Wyman Doyle ANDERSON 3 January 9, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Hayden Alvin GREGORY 5 January 12, 2007 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Robert Wesley McCLURG 7 January 20, 2007 Skaneateles, New York
John Lawrence BANKS 8.5 February 12, 2007 St Louis, Missouri
William Francis COLLINS 4 March 9, 2007 Michigan City, Indiana
Arthur Roger CONANT 6 March 10, 2007 Seattle, Washington
Willis Eugene MATHEWS Jr 5.5 March 13, 2007 (residence: Whittier, Los
Angeles, California)
Charles Henry DuBOIS Jr 6 March 23, 2007 Chesterfield, Missouri
Edgar Bradford McCLURE 5 Apirl 25, 2007 (residence: Iowa Park, Wichita,
Texas)
Carl Eugene SMITH 4 April 27, 2007 Chula Vista, California
Robert HURST 6 April 27, 2007 (residence: Denver, Adams,
Colorado)
William `B' FREEMAN 6 June 11, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Robin OLDS 17 June 14, 2007 Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Austin LeRoy OLSEN 5 June 15, 2007 (Mexico City, US Consulate
#773) Mexico
David Patterson PHILIPS III 5 June 19, 2007 Elk Rapids, Michigan
Morton David MAGOFFIN 5 July 9, 2007 Pleasanton, California
Archie Glenn DONAHUE 14 July 30, 2007 Rio Hondo, Texas

Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Frank Olynyk.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Frank,

You are a god send to all Fighter Ace historians and buffs. Thank you very much for the list sir.

Mark Copeland

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Hi there,

This name jumped out at me:

Robert Wesley McCLURG 7 January 20, 2007 Skaneateles, New York

Does anyone have any further info on this person?

Thanks,
Chris

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Frank, yes thank you very much for the names of deceased pilots. Do you have lists of deceased Axis pilots as well? If not would you happen to know where one might find up to date lists?

Thank you very much sir,
Dennis

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

That's a shock about Mort Magoffin--I knew him well but had not seen him in years. He used to hunt with Bob Scott in our part of the Northwest. Mort was CO of the 362nd FG, 9th AF, one of just three aces in the group. He was shot down and badly wounded after D-Day and liberated in a Paris hospital.

He was so proud of his hole in one certificate that he hung it next to his Distinguished Service Cross!

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

So the protagonist of Operation Wolfpack has also passed on.
Goodspeed Sir.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Norman Mollard USN 6 victory ace PTO died on 30 Oct 2007 of a heart attack and stroke.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Below is an updated list of American aces who have died in 2007. Entries ending in + are additions to the original list; the one marked * contains updated information.


Camille Joseph ROSBERT 6 January 7, 2007 (residence: Katy, Texas)
Wyman Doyle ANDERSON 3 January 9, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Hayden Alvin GREGORY 5 January 12, 2007 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Darrell Stuart CRAMER 7 January 17, 2007 Springville, Utah +
Robert Wesley McCLURG 7 January 20, 2007 Skaneateles, New York
Marlow John LEIKNESS 5 February 1, 2007 Delano, Minnesota +
John Lawrence BANKS 8.5 February 12, 2007 St Louis, Missouri
William Francis COLLINS 4 March 9, 2007 Michigan City, Indiana
Arthur Roger CONANT 6 March 10, 2007 Seattle, Washington
Willis Eugene MATHEWS Jr 5.5 March 13, 2007 (residence: Whittier, Los Angeles, California)
Charles Henry DuBOIS Jr 6 March 23, 2007 Chesterfield, Missouri
Edgar Bradford McCLURE 5 Apirl 25, 2007 (residence: Iowa Park, Wichita, Texas)
Carl Eugene SMITH 4 April 27, 2007 Chula Vista, California
Robert HURST 6 April 27, 2007 (residence: Denver, Adams, Colorado)
William `B' FREEMAN 6 June 11, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Robin OLDS 17 June 14, 2007 Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Austin LeRoy OLSEN 5 June 15, 2007 Cuernavaca, Mexico *
Paul Edward OLSON 5 June 15, 2007 Lexington, Kentucky +
David Patterson PHILIPS III 5 June 19, 2007 Elk Rapids, Michigan
Michael Joseph JACKSON 8 July 5, 2007 Marlton, New Jersey +
Morton David MAGOFFIN 5 July 9, 2007 Pleasanton, California
Jack Otto WATSON 5 July 18, 2007 Stafford, Virginia +
Archie Glenn DONAHUE 14 July 30, 2007 Rio Hondo, Texas
Elvin Lester LINDSAY 8 August 7, 2007 Salt River, near Canyon Lake, Arizona (fishing) +
Walter Axel LUNDIN 6.5 September 2, 2007 Port Saint Lucie, Florida +
David Lee HILL 15.25 October 11, 2007 Terrell Hills/San Antonio, Texas +
Norman Wesley MOLLARD, Jr 6 October 29, 2007 Palestine, Texas +

Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Frank Olynyk.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Two USMC aces.

Robert Gordon Owens, Jr. died October 31, 2007 in Boulder, Colorado.

Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc died Friday, November 23, 2007 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor. And a PhD in Education.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

L/c R W McClurg USMC
Flew with the "Black Sheep" VMF 211. 7 confirmed 2 prob DFC with 4 GS Air Medal w 7 GS
Hope it helps
Hugh

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Sabredog -- the Black Sheep were VMF-214.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Gerald Brown died December 9, 2007, Chandler, Arizona.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Just received an email from Millie Roberson last night. Arval "Robie" Roberson - 357th FG Ace - Pilot of "Passion Wagon" passed away on December 7th.

He was a heck of a nice chap....as all of them are.

Blue Skies "Robie"!!

Mark Copeland

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

I just received notice that Col Henry Brown, 355th FG top ace passed away. I don't know exact date but will find out soon. Frank probably knows.

That leaves two surviving 355th aces, Lt.Gen'l Gordy Graham and Bill Cullerton. Fortier, Lenfest and Brown all within last 18 months.

RIP Junior

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Gentlemen, any information about these men? All of 325th Fighter Group, (victories):

Maj. H. H. Green (18), 317th Sqd.
Maj. John E. Peery Jr. (2), 319th Sqd.
Capt. Sheldon W. Farnham (2), 318th Sqd.
1st Lt. John M. Simmons (7), 317th Sqd.
1st Lt. H. Parker (13), 318th Sqd.
1st Lt. William Pomerantz (4), 318th Sqd.
1st Lt. Philip Sangermano (8), 318th Sqd.
1st Lt. Jack J. Bond (4), 319th Sqd.
2nd Lt. Lawrence Schachner (1), 318th Sqd.
F/O P. G. Johnson
F/O W.D. Terry

Thanks, Kurtl

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Herschel Green died on August 16, 2006 in Torrance, California.
John Simmons was KIFA on January 18, 1961 at Eglin AFB, Florida.
Harry Parker was MIA on April 2, 1945 at 46-45N, 15-40E.
Philip Sangermano was MIA on December 9, 1944 at Linz, Austria.

No information on the non-aces.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

Here is my current list of American aces who died in 2007.

Camille Joseph ROSBERT 6 January 7, 2007 (residence: Katy, Texas)
Wyman Doyle ANDERSON 3 January 9, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Hayden Alvin GREGORY 5 January 12, 2007 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Darrell Stuart CRAMER 7 January 17, 2007 Springville, Utah
Robert Wesley McCLURG 7 January 20, 2007 Skaneateles, New York
Marlow John LEIKNESS 5 February 1, 2007 Delano, Minnesota
John Lawrence BANKS 8.5 February 12, 2007 St Louis, Missouri
William Francis COLLINS 4 March 9, 2007 Michigan City, Indiana
Arthur Roger CONANT 6 March 10, 2007 Seattle, Washington
Willis Eugene MATHEWS Jr 5.5 March 13, 2007 (residence: Whittier, Los Angeles, California)
Charles Henry DuBOIS Jr 6 March 23, 2007 Chesterfield, Missouri
Edgar Bradford McCLURE 5 April 25, 2007 (residence: Iowa Park, Wichita, Texas)
Carl Eugene SMITH 4 April 27, 2007 Chula Vista, California
Robert HURST 6 April 28, 2007 (residence: Denver, Adams, Colorado)
William `B' FREEMAN 6 June 11, 2007 Sherman, Texas
Robin OLDS 17 June 14, 2007 Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Paul Edward OLSON 5 June 15, 2007 Lexington, Kentucky
Austin LeRoy OLSEN 5 June 15, 2007 Cuernavaca, Mexico
David Patterson PHILIPS III 5 June 19, 2007 Elk Rapids, Michigan
Michael Joseph JACKSON 8 July 5, 2007 Marlton, New Jersey
Morton David MAGOFFIN 5 July 10, 2007 Pleasanton, California
Jack Otto WATSON 5 July 18, 2007 Stafford, Virginia
Archie Glenn DONAHUE 14 July 30, 2007 Rio Hondo, Texas
Elvin Lester LINDSAY 8 August 7, 2007 Salt River, near Canyon Lake, Arizona (fishing)
Robert Donald JOHNSTON 6 August 17, 2007 Panama City Beach, Florida
Walter Axel LUNDIN 6.5 September 2, 2007 Port Saint Lucie, Florida
David Lee HILL 15.25 October 11, 2007 Terrell Hills/San Antonio, Texas
Norman Wesley MOLLARD Jr 6 October 29, 2007 Palestine, Texas
Robert Gordon OWENS Jr 7 October 31, 2007 Boulder, Colorado
Jefferson Joseph DeBLANC 9 November 23, 2007 Lafayette, Louisiana
Arval James ROBERSON 6 December 7, 2007 White Stone, Virginia
Gerald BROWN 5 December 8, 2007 Chandler, Arizona
Joe Draper ROBBINS 5 December 12, 2007 Escondido, California
Lawrence Frederick O'NEILL 5 December 18, 2007 St Louis, Missouri

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2007
 

A rather late addition.

ROUNDS, Gerald Lynn, 5, October 1, 2007, Cedar City, Utah.

Rest in Peace.

Frank.