A Look Back At Those We Lost In 2004

With the passing of another year, we have seen some members of our aviation community also pass. The aviation brotherhood/sisterhood is small enough that we all feel the loss of one of our membership when it happens. Whether we knew them personally, or just watched or read about their aviation deeds, we feel the emptiness left by their passing. To those they left behind, our heartfelt wishes are with you.

To the ones who’ve passed, if you’re reading this, please look down on us and smile.

These are some of the aviation legends who have 'gone west' this year:

3 Feb 2004 Duane Cole -- Legendary airshow performer, writer and flight instructor (right). ANN report 4 Feb 2004

30 Mar 04 Harlan Jost -- Distinguished veteran, American Airlines manager and long time member of the Southern California Aeronautic Association. ANN report 8 Apr 2004

14 Apr 2004 Jerry Rooks -- Advocate of the southern aviation scene. ANN report 26 Apr 2004

7 May 2004 Pete Knight -- Veteran test pilot and combat pilot, California State Senator. ANN report 10 May 2004

22 May 2004 Sam Johnson -- Early and lifelong supporter of EAA Young Eagles program. Chairman emeritus of SC Johnson Wax. ANN report 25 May 2004

3 Jul 2004 Andrian Nikolayev -- Former lumberjack turned Cosmonaut. ANN report 6 Jul 2004

15 Jul 2004 Charles W. Sweeney -- Retired USAF Brigadier General, pilot of "Bock's Car" (right) the B--29 that dropped the 2nd Atomic bomb on Nagasaki to end WWII. ANN report 19 Jul 2004

10 Jul 2004 Albert Casey -- Chairman of AMR Corp., parent company of American Airlines, professor at Southern Methodist University's Edwin L. Cox School of Business. ANN report 13 Jul 2004

4 Aug 2004 Joel Smith -- Test pilot and head of flight line at Mooney Aircraft. ANN report 9 Aug 2004

28 Aug 2004 Alva Temple -- Flew 120 missions as one of the famed Tuskeegee Airmen. ANN report 3 Sep 2004

8 Sep 2004 John Franklin "Jack" Bolt -- Retired USMC Lt. Col., Double Ace, WWII (as part of the famed Black Sheep Squadron) and Korea. ANN report 21 Sep 2004

1 Sep 2004 Walter Koladza -- Former Corsair test pilot and "the personification of Berkshire Aviation Enterprises and Great Barrington Airport since 1945 according to ANN contributor "Bill" Schulz." ANN report 22 Oct 2004

4 Oct 2004 Gordon Cooper -- One of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, former Marine and USAF pilot, test pilot at Edwards AFB. ANN report 5 Oct 2004 and 19 Oct 2004

9 Oct 2004 Max Faget -- Designer of the Mercury spacecraft and Apollo command and service module (right), a founding member of the Space Task Force which became the core of NASA. Founded Space Industries. ANN report 12 Oct 2004

10 Oct 2004 Christopher Reeve -- Actor and commercial--instrument, multi-engine pilot. Best known for his portrayal of Superman. Former chairman of Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

2 Dec 2004 Joseph Conrad Funk -- Co--founder of Funk Aircraft Company. ANN report 4 Dec 2004

7 Dec 2004 Rick Gillenwaters -- Instructor for Texas Air Aces, USAF veteran.

10 Dec 2004 Capt. Miles Selby -- Canadian Force pilot, in his second year as a pilot with the Canadian Snowbird Flight Demonstration Team. ANN 11 Dec 2004

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