YoungWillz 21,067 Posted July 19, 2021 13 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: Not sure how Lawrence "Benny" Goodman fits in here, but "Dambusters" is all over his Wiki. I'm guessing because he was in 617 Squadron. Anyway, he's being reported dead: https://www.key.aero/article/dambuster-lawrence-benny-goodman-dies Cross-posting Lawrence Goodman's death report here - reportedly the last surviving pilot of 617 Squadron (but I'm scared because of the whole Tuskegee survivors/Spanish Civil War threads!). According to this, he died 18th July: https://dambustersblog.com/2021/07/18/sqn-ldr-benny-goodman/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arghton 6,763 Posted November 27, 2021 https://vtc.vn/anh-hung-phi-cong-huyen-thoai-nguyen-hong-nhi-qua-doi-ar648635.html Vietnam War flying ace Nguyễn Hồng Nhị dead at 84. He had 8 kills. The Vietnam War had atleast 22 flying aces: 9 Victories: Nguyễn Văn Cốc (1942-) North Vietnam, most victories during the war. The "Colonel Tomb" myth was loosely based on him. Retired in 2002 from his positions due to declining health, and had a bad fall and spinal injury in 2004, but still going: 8 Victories: Mai Văn Cường (1941-) NV, interview from August 2022: suffered a spinal injury during the war, but seemingly recovered well. Only has a permanent ear injury and can't hear properly. Nguyễn Hồng Nhị (1936-2021) NV, died at Military Hospital 175 in November 2021 at 84. Phạm Thanh Ngân (1939-) NV, later the Chief of the General Department of Politics 1998-2001 7 Victories: Đặng Ngọc Ngự (1939-1972) NV, Shot down, killed 1972 Nguyễn Văn Bảy (1936-2019) NV, Died of a stroke in September 2019 at 82 or 83. 6 Victories: Lê Hải (?) NV, one of the three US-confirmed MiG-17 aces of North Vietnam with Bay and Huy Chao. Couldn't find anything about him. Lê Thanh Đạo (1944-) NV, still quite healthy. Luu Huy Chao (1936-) NV Nguyễn Đức Soát (1946-) NV, Lt. Gen, healthy as of 2022. Nguyễn Đăng Kính (1941-) NV Nguyễn Ngọc Độ (1934-) NV Nguyễn Nhật Chiêu (1934-) NV, Vietnamese wiki says he died in 2015 but can't find anything to prove this. Nguyễn Tiến Sâm (1946-2019) NV, died from a serious illness in August 2019. Vũ Ngọc Đỉnh (?) NV, January 2022 article says he's alive and lives with his much younger artist wife. Charles B. DeBellevue (1945-) US, most victories on the side of US and North Vietnam. As of 2022, still quite healthy. 5 Victories: Le Quang Trung (Died during the war) NV, along with the two below mentioned in 2015 book "MiG Aces of the Vietnam War" Nguyễn Phi Hung (Died during the war) NV Võ Văn Man (Died during the war) NV Nguyễn Văn Nghĩa (1946-) NV Duke Cunningham (1941-) US, later a member of the US House of Representatives 1991-2005. Convicted of tax evasion, mail fraud and wire fraud and served a prison sentence. William P. Driscoll (1947-) US, youngest Vietnam flying ace? Looks frailish. Richard Stephen Ritchie (1942-) US Jeffrey Feinstein (1945-) US Other wars: WWII: Multiple (WWII thread) Korean War: None known (Unknown if any Soviet aces are alive) Added a few names and fixed information in December 2022. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Creep 7,070 Posted March 3, 2022 Looks like we need a Russo-Ukraine War thread for casualties of war. Feel free to merge this if one is made. We are greatly saddened to report that the famed Ukrainian Air Force Flanker air show display pilot, and national hero of Ukraine, Colonel Oleksandr “Grey Wolf” Oksanchenko, was shot down over the capital Kyiv last Friday night shortly after his seventh air to air kill against the Russian Air Force (RAF) by a Russian S-400 Triumph Air Defence Missile System. RIP SC 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Creep 7,070 Posted March 9, 2022 Posting here as well. John Billings, who flew Allied spies behind Nazi lines, dies at 98. SC 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alt obits guy 3,371 Posted April 4, 2022 John Lear, who set multiple world records in a multitude of planes, but who also was widely known for his claims related to UFOs, has died. He was 79. Lear was also the son of Bill Lear, creator of the Lear jet. https://www.8newsnow.com/i-team/famed-aviator-john-lear-79-departs-on-his-next-adventure/ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 8,002 Posted December 9, 2022 On 09/07/2013 at 03:12, One shot Paddy said: Joe Kittinger 84, held the record for longest skydive before Felix Baumgartner. Joseph Kittinger dead at 94. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gisooo 3,381 Posted April 10, 2023 Max Hazelton AM OBE (Wiki), Australian aviator and founder of Hazelton Airlines dead at 95 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,655 Posted January 5 Richard Wiese (wiki) is still marked as living on Wiki, but died in September 2021, aged 91. First pilot to solo fly a plane across the Pacific Ocean, from the east coast of the USA to the west coast of Australia. At the time, he was unaware that nobody had ever made the journey and was shocked to discover he had set a new record. Legacy obit. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gisooo 3,381 Posted March 2 Gerald Gustafson (Wiki), American pilot during the post-war period dead at 95 His most notable achievements came during the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Air Force Cross. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alt obits guy 3,371 Posted March 10 David E. Harris, the first Black commercial pilot for a major U.S. airlines and the first Black man to achieve the rank of Pilot Captain for a major U.S. commercial airline, has died. He was 89. Harris was hired by American Airlines in 1964. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/david-e-harris-first-black-commercial-pilot-for-major-us-airline-dies-at-89/5210810/ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,067 Posted March 20 Eric Moody, British Airways pilot, reportedly dead: https://www.airlineratings.com/news/miracle-pilot-takes-off-for-the-last-time/ Basically, his flight few through volcanic ash thrown up by Mount Galunggung and all 4 engines stopped. The crew evaluated various options before being able to restart the engines and land safely. You can read all about it at British Airways Flight 009. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bentrovato 1,089 Posted April 8 On 20/03/2024 at 11:32, YoungWillz said: Eric Moody, British Airways pilot, reportedly dead: https://www.airlineratings.com/news/miracle-pilot-takes-off-for-the-last-time/ Basically, his flight few through volcanic ash thrown up by Mount Galunggung and all 4 engines stopped. The crew evaluated various options before being able to restart the engines and land safely. You can read all about it at British Airways Flight 009. Captain Eric Moody on QI. The tale of a calm pilot during a flight emergency | QI - BBC (youtube.com) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gisooo 3,381 Posted May 30 American aviator Gene Nora Jessen (Wiki) and member of Mercury 13, dead at 87 With her death, now the last surviving female aviator of Mercury 13, is Wally Funk born 1939 (Wiki) aged 85 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arghton 6,763 Posted July 5 Nguyễn Văn Cốc, Lieutenant General and greatest ace of the Vietnam War, pictured earlier this year. Clearly in perfect health. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gisooo 3,381 Posted August 16 British aviator Tony Blackman (Wiki), and former Chief Test Pilot for Avro dead at 96 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arsewipe 202 Posted August 17 Death from a few months ago that may have been missed on here (searched but can't find any posts). Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, Sea Harrier pilot who shot down three Argentine aircraft during the Falklands war and subsequently wrote several books on the subject. His son Kris Ward was also a Harrier pilot but commited suicide in 2018. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/may/21/20240521-sharkey-ward-obituary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Comped 530 Posted August 18 7 hours ago, Arsewipe said: Death from a few months ago that may have been missed on here (searched but can't find any posts). Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, Sea Harrier pilot who shot down three Argentine aircraft during the Falklands war and subsequently wrote several books on the subject. His son Kris Ward was also a Harrier pilot but commited suicide in 2018. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/may/21/20240521-sharkey-ward-obituary Probably deserved a knighthood for what he did during that war... But I'm sure the RN wouldn't have been happy about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
One shot Paddy 1,206 Posted August 18 10 hours ago, Arsewipe said: Death from a few months ago that may have been missed on here (searched but can't find any posts). Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, Sea Harrier pilot who shot down three Argentine aircraft during the Falklands war and subsequently wrote several books on the subject. His son Kris Ward was also a Harrier pilot but commited suicide in 2018. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/may/21/20240521-sharkey-ward-obituary Military commanders thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arsewipe 202 Posted August 18 7 hours ago, One shot Paddy said: Military commanders thread. Oh well, the search function on here did not pick it up. Bearer can come and move/delete it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,623 Posted August 22 Original Red Arrows pilot Squadron Leader Henry Prince has died aged 90. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,623 Posted October 16 Retired USAF Major-General Richard Secord, who came to public attention for his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair (Ollie North, et al), has died aged 92. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
