American Aces Died in 2008
 

These are the aces I know about so far this year.

Joel Amos OWENS Jr 5 January 19, 2008 Colorado Springs, Colorado
Henry William BROWN 14.2 February 19, 2008 Sumter, South Carolina
Donald Sewell LOPEZ 5 March 3, 2008 Durham, North Carolina
Gordon Marion GRAHAM 7 March 22, 2008 Irvington, Virginia

Rest in Peace.

Frank Olynyk.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Frank,
Is Walker "Bud" Mahurin still with us or has he passed?
Hugh

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Bud is still alive, although I believe his health is poor.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Two recent additions to the list:

Maurice George LONG, 5.5, March 31, 2008, Apple Valley, California

William Elmer BRYAN Jr, 7.5, April 6, 2008, Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Rest in Peace.

Frank Olynyk.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And another addition:

Hamilton McWhorter III, 12, April 12, 2008, El Cajon, California.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Frank,

..while you're here ..can I ask if you know how James Goodson is doing......is he still in my part of the world (Kent, England)...last I heard he was in very poor health ...

cheers

Neil

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Neil,
Jim Goodson has moved back to the US, and lives near his son I believe. He is suffering from Alzheimer's to some extent. I believe when he travels now his son always goes with him; they were at the 4th FG reunion in Texas several years ago.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Sadly, I return too soon:

John Richard (Dick) Rossi, 6, April 17, 2008, Fallbrook, California

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And once again I return far too soon:

Edward Alexander (Alex) Phillips, 5, April 17, 2008, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And immediately after posting that, I learned of another:

Truman Sheldon Barnes, 5, April 17, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada (?)

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

This is a bad month.

Joseph John Paskoski, 6, April 15, 2008, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (?)

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

This is a very bad month.

James Madison Morris, 7.333, April 2, 2008, Palm Harbor, Florida (?)

Frank Olynyk.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And it continues to get worse.

Frank William Klibbe, 7, April 26, 2008, Tavares, Florida (?)

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And worse.

Hugh McJunkin Elwood, 5, April 18, 2008, Jacksonville, Florida (?)

Rest in Peace.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

It's May now, but April is still with us. *sigh*

Theodore Hugh Winters, Jr, 8, April 25, 2008, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And now May is with us.

Murray, Robert Edward, 10.333, May 7, 2008, Jacksonville, Florida (?)

Rest in Peace.

A few posts back, James M Morris died in Clearwater, Florida.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Well, Frank, it is that time after the War, isn't it? Thanks to all the hard work you have done, and still do, their deeds will be remembered.

Thanks!

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Two more.

Eugene Paul Roberts, 9, May 16, 2008, Spokane, Washington. (thanks to Jack Cook for the reference)

Robert Paul Winks, 5.5, May 19, 2008, California (?). I have not been able to verify this yet.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

And again, two more.

John Harvey Curry, 7.333, March 18, 2008, Oak Hill, Florida (?)

Robert Merrill Barkey, 5, May 30, 2008, California (?)

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

One more for May:

Brooks Jonathan Liles, 5, May 28, 2008, Lexington, South Carolina.

Rest, Pappy.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

I regret to report that Robert Barkey of the 325th FG, an ace, passed on 30 May 2008. Bob flew both the Thunderbolt and Mustang with victories in each aircraft. He was a fine pilot and man whom we all will miss.

Cordially, Art Fiedler

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

1/Lt Liles was shot down by flak defending the airfield in Kleacany, near Prague, Czechoslovakia, on March 3, 1945 while strafing it with other pilots of the 55th FG. His fellow 1/Lt Howes landed to try to pick him up but they failed and were - being wounded - later captured.
Regards, Filip

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

TRULUCK John Hinds Jr, 7, June 20, 2008, Walterboro, South Carolina

RIP

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

GERICK, Steven, 5, July 11, 2008, Sun City, Arizona (?)

DeHAVEN, Robert Marshall, 14, July 11, 2008, Los Angeles area, California (?)

The deaths are confirmed, but I am waiting for obituaries to verify the place of death.

RIP, gentlemen.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Revi magazine published a nice article about Bob DeHaven just in last issue. RIP.

Michal

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

WANG Kuang-Fu, 8.5 (6.5 documented), July 8, 2008, Plano, Texas

ROSS, Herbert Erskine, 7, July 20, 2008, Stockton, California

TORDOFF, Harrison Bruce, 5, July 24, 2008, St Paul, Minnesota

HAYES, Thomas Lloyd Jr, 8.5, July 24, 2008, Reston, Virginia

RIP.

Wang is not really an American ace, being born in China, and serving in the Chinese Air Force in World War 2. However, all his victories were claimed while in the Chinese-American Composite Wing, so I have included him as serving directly beside Americans. He lived in the United States since the mid-50s.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Frank,

sorry to hear Tommy Hayes died. I had a great time with him during the 357th FG Reunion back in Long Beach in 1993. Really a great guy.

RIP

John.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Frank,

In "Stars and Bars" you state that Wang Kuang-fu "retired from the Chinese Air Force in May, 1964." Yet above you indicate that he moved to the US in the mid-50s. Can you clarify his post war career?

Thanks.
Tom

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Tom,

It comes from working in a hurry, from memory. I haven't dug up my sources, but Stars and Bars is correct.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

WATKINS, James Albert, 12, August 18, 2008, Arlington, Texas

RIP.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Colonel Donald James Matthew Blakeslee - Fourth FG Commander - 15.5

Passed away quietly in his sleep in the early evening of September 3, 2008. Just nine days short of his 91st Birthday.

Mark Copeland

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

BLAKESLEE, Donald James Mathew, 14.5, September 3, 2008, at home, and thus presumably Goulds (Miami), Florida

EVENSON, Eric Alvin, 8.25, September 13, 2008, Branson West, Missouri

KARGER, Dale Ernest, 7.5, October 5, 2008, Beaver, Pennsylvania

Rest in Peace, gentlemen.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

So many in such a short period. May they all rest in peace.

It's frustrating for me to learn, posthumously, that I lived so near to so many (I'm in central Florida and travel the entire state). Is there a source where I can find out who is still in my neck of the woods such that I may contact for interviews etc, ?

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

OLANDER, Edwin Lawrence, 5, October 9, 2008, Northampton, Massachusetts

Rest in Peace.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

DAVIS, Robert Harold, 5.5, May 29, 2008, Camarillo, California (I assume)

GERARD, Francis Robert, 8, November 1, 2008, Point Pleasant, New Jersey

Rest in Peace.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

MALONEY, Thomas Edward, 8, November 16, 2008, Cushing, Oklahoma.

Rest in Peace.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

WEAVER, Charles Elon, 8, November 19, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia.

RIP.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

YORK, Robert Miles, 5, September 19, 2008, Scarborough, Maine

A late discovery:
GRAHAM, Vernon Earl, 5, January 2, 2006, Santa Maria, California (?)

Recent research has discovered:
BROWN, Robert Harold, 7, December 20, 1975, Norwood, Massachusetts

And I believe that Robert Reynolds died in December 28, 1977, in Orlando, Florida, but I have been unable to match the ace with the deceased (other than the names are the same, with the same birth year, and the ace listed Orlando as his hometown).

RIP.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

ABERNATHY, Robert Wilson, 5, December 14, 2008, Mason City, Iowa

Rest in Peace.

Frank.

Re: American Aces Died in 2008
 

Belated info: Vernon E. Graham (VF-11, Guadalcanal) 2 January 2006, Santa Maria, California.