Obituaries
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My condolences Vahe. Looks like he had a good life.
michael rauls
Tech Sergeant
- 1,679
- Jul 15, 2016
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Walter J. Boyne 1929-2020
Jan. 10, 2020 | By John A. Tirpak
Walter Boyne, retired Air Force pilot, author of more than 50 books about aviation, former director of the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, and former chairman of the National Aeronautic Association, died Jan. 9, at the age of 90.
Raised in East St. Louis, Mo., Boyne attended Washington University in St. Louis for two years, then left to join the Air Force's aviation cadet program, earning his wings and commission in 1952. He flew B-50 bombers before transitioning to the B-47 and then the B-52.
Boyne was selected for the 4925th Nuclear Test Group and was a "nuclear ace," dropping five nuclear weapons in tests. Returning to school, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. As commander of the 635th Services Squadron, Boyne flew 120 combat hours in Vietnam as an instructor in the C-47. He retired from USAF as a colonel in 1974, having logged more than 5,000 flight hours during his 22 years in uniform.
Boyne launched his writing career in 1962, ultimately building a catalog of 47 nonfiction aviation books, seven novels, and more than 1,000 magazine articles, including frequent contributions to Air Force Magazine. He had both fiction and nonfiction books make it onto the New York Times bestseller list.
Jan. 10, 2020 | By John A. Tirpak
Walter Boyne, retired Air Force pilot, author of more than 50 books about aviation, former director of the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, and former chairman of the National Aeronautic Association, died Jan. 9, at the age of 90.
Raised in East St. Louis, Mo., Boyne attended Washington University in St. Louis for two years, then left to join the Air Force's aviation cadet program, earning his wings and commission in 1952. He flew B-50 bombers before transitioning to the B-47 and then the B-52.
Boyne was selected for the 4925th Nuclear Test Group and was a "nuclear ace," dropping five nuclear weapons in tests. Returning to school, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. As commander of the 635th Services Squadron, Boyne flew 120 combat hours in Vietnam as an instructor in the C-47. He retired from USAF as a colonel in 1974, having logged more than 5,000 flight hours during his 22 years in uniform.
Boyne launched his writing career in 1962, ultimately building a catalog of 47 nonfiction aviation books, seven novels, and more than 1,000 magazine articles, including frequent contributions to Air Force Magazine. He had both fiction and nonfiction books make it onto the New York Times bestseller list.
michael rauls
Tech Sergeant
- 1,679
- Jul 15, 2016
Sounds like quite an impressive life.
R.I.P. ..
R.I.P. ..
Crimea_River
Marshal
Blue skies....
fubar57
General
Jim Auton: Newark's hero of Warsaw Uprising dies. 
One of only three remaining RAF heroes of the Warsaw Uprising has died. Mr Auton and his comrades were instrumental in the British-led Warsaw Airlift operation, which resupplied the besieged Polish resistance, the Home Army, in their uprising against Nazi Germany during the second world war.
Mr Auton grew up on RAF airfields in the 1920s and 1930s because his father was a member of ground crew who worked on the maintenance of the RAF's earliest aircraft.
He joined up in 1941 and, having seen the devastation poured on British cities caused by the Luftwaffe, hoped to do his bit. He wanted to be a Spitfire pilot, but was later re-trained as a bomb-aimer. At only 20, he flew 37 wartime missions with 178 Squadron, but is best known for his contribution and bravery during the Warsaw Uprising. On August 1, 1944, after five years of Nazi rule, the resistance in Warsaw rose up in an effort to overthrow their oppressors. Within the next few days around 180,000 Polish civilians were killed, including an estimated 60,000 children. The resistance had supplies to last only three days of fighting. On August 12, 1944, Mr Auton and his crew flew to Warsaw to drop 12 containers with essential weapons, ammunition and medical supplies. During a six-hour flight to the beleagured city, he witnessed one of their aircraft shot down before he found the drop zone.
"We must have been mad," Mr Auton told. "Planes were being shot down all around us. "I said we had not come all this way to drop the supplies in the wrong place. "You just felt like a robot and the training took over." Two nights later, he and his crew would return to drop further supplies. On his 37th mission, Mr Auton was seriously wounded, suffering damage to his lungs and he lost an eye. After the war he became fluent in six languages and was even asked to spy for British intelligence — but refused. In 1989, Mr Auton was responsible for the creation of the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial — another name for the airlift — in Newark Cemetery, which stands next to the Polish and Commonwealth War Graves section.
The memorial cross was erected to commemorate both the Home Army and the 250 British, Polish and South African airmen who died in support of the freedom fighters of Warsaw.
His wife, Peggy, is buried by the cross and he has a plot next to her. Mr Auton raised £3m for the Air Bridge Association, which he also founded.
For his wartime bravery, he was awarded 19 medals from different countries including France, Poland and Czechoslavia, as well as, an MBE from Prince Charles for his charity work.
In then letter sent him, Polish Ambassador to the UK, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was uplifted and grateful for the role he played. Mr Rzegocki wrote: "With the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the second world war, I am all the more grateful that we can celebrate deeds of individuals such as yourself, who did not back away when your fellow human beings were in need. "You are an example to follow for future generations."
Mr Auton died on Saturday.
source: Newark Advertiser
One of only three remaining RAF heroes of the Warsaw Uprising has died. Mr Auton and his comrades were instrumental in the British-led Warsaw Airlift operation, which resupplied the besieged Polish resistance, the Home Army, in their uprising against Nazi Germany during the second world war.
Mr Auton grew up on RAF airfields in the 1920s and 1930s because his father was a member of ground crew who worked on the maintenance of the RAF's earliest aircraft.
He joined up in 1941 and, having seen the devastation poured on British cities caused by the Luftwaffe, hoped to do his bit. He wanted to be a Spitfire pilot, but was later re-trained as a bomb-aimer. At only 20, he flew 37 wartime missions with 178 Squadron, but is best known for his contribution and bravery during the Warsaw Uprising. On August 1, 1944, after five years of Nazi rule, the resistance in Warsaw rose up in an effort to overthrow their oppressors. Within the next few days around 180,000 Polish civilians were killed, including an estimated 60,000 children. The resistance had supplies to last only three days of fighting. On August 12, 1944, Mr Auton and his crew flew to Warsaw to drop 12 containers with essential weapons, ammunition and medical supplies. During a six-hour flight to the beleagured city, he witnessed one of their aircraft shot down before he found the drop zone.
"We must have been mad," Mr Auton told. "Planes were being shot down all around us. "I said we had not come all this way to drop the supplies in the wrong place. "You just felt like a robot and the training took over." Two nights later, he and his crew would return to drop further supplies. On his 37th mission, Mr Auton was seriously wounded, suffering damage to his lungs and he lost an eye. After the war he became fluent in six languages and was even asked to spy for British intelligence — but refused. In 1989, Mr Auton was responsible for the creation of the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial — another name for the airlift — in Newark Cemetery, which stands next to the Polish and Commonwealth War Graves section.
The memorial cross was erected to commemorate both the Home Army and the 250 British, Polish and South African airmen who died in support of the freedom fighters of Warsaw.
His wife, Peggy, is buried by the cross and he has a plot next to her. Mr Auton raised £3m for the Air Bridge Association, which he also founded.
For his wartime bravery, he was awarded 19 medals from different countries including France, Poland and Czechoslavia, as well as, an MBE from Prince Charles for his charity work.
In then letter sent him, Polish Ambassador to the UK, Arkady Rzegocki, said he was uplifted and grateful for the role he played. Mr Rzegocki wrote: "With the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the second world war, I am all the more grateful that we can celebrate deeds of individuals such as yourself, who did not back away when your fellow human beings were in need. "You are an example to follow for future generations."
Mr Auton died on Saturday.
source: Newark Advertiser
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 43,328
- Mar 26, 2007
Quite a man.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
fubar57
General
Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM
One of the last of the Few, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM, died peacefully at his home in Hampshire on Tuesday morning (28 Jan) at the age of 101.
A huge supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and well known to Trustees, staff and many of the volunteers at Capel-le-Ferne, Paul was the last member of the Few who was fit enough to attend the annual Memorial Day and proudly represented his RAF colleagues at this year's Service of Commemoration just over a week before his 101st birthday on 16 July.
A tall, distinguished man with striking silver grey hair that he retained throughout his life, Paul Farnes was known for plain speaking but was generous with his time in support of Trust activities. He was also very proud of the DFM he was awarded as a Sergeant Pilot, declaring in a recent interview that he "wouldn't swap it for two DFCs".
After joining the RAFVR in 1938 he took the opportunity In July 1939 of spending six months with the regular RAF before converting to Hurricanes and joining No 501 Squadron on 14 September, moving with the squadron to Bétheniville in France on 10 May 1940. His score during the Battle of France was one enemy aircraft destroyed, one possibly destroyed and two shared, but that was just a curtain raiser to his impressive tally in the Battle of Britain that followed.
On 12 August 1940 he claimed a Ju 87 destroyed, on the 15th two more, on the 18th a Do 17, on the 28th a Bf 109 and on the 30th a He 111 damaged. He damaged two Bf 109s on 2 September and a Bf 110 on 3 September, damaged Do 17s on the 14th and 27th, destroyed a Ju 88 on the 30th and got probable Bf 109s on 29 October and 8 November – just after the official end of the Battle. It was a remarkable tally – six destroyed, one probably destroyed and six damaged within the timeframe of the Battle of Britain – and saw him awarded the DFM on 22 October.
After being commissioned, Farnes served as an instructor and fought in Malta with No 229 Squadron as well as serving in North Africa and Iraq. As the war ended, he was in command of two squadrons in the UK.
Remaining in the RAF until 1958, he retired as a Squadron Leader, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.
One of the last of the Few, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM, died peacefully at his home in Hampshire on Tuesday morning (28 Jan) at the age of 101.
A huge supporter of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and well known to Trustees, staff and many of the volunteers at Capel-le-Ferne, Paul was the last member of the Few who was fit enough to attend the annual Memorial Day and proudly represented his RAF colleagues at this year's Service of Commemoration just over a week before his 101st birthday on 16 July.
A tall, distinguished man with striking silver grey hair that he retained throughout his life, Paul Farnes was known for plain speaking but was generous with his time in support of Trust activities. He was also very proud of the DFM he was awarded as a Sergeant Pilot, declaring in a recent interview that he "wouldn't swap it for two DFCs".
After joining the RAFVR in 1938 he took the opportunity In July 1939 of spending six months with the regular RAF before converting to Hurricanes and joining No 501 Squadron on 14 September, moving with the squadron to Bétheniville in France on 10 May 1940. His score during the Battle of France was one enemy aircraft destroyed, one possibly destroyed and two shared, but that was just a curtain raiser to his impressive tally in the Battle of Britain that followed.
On 12 August 1940 he claimed a Ju 87 destroyed, on the 15th two more, on the 18th a Do 17, on the 28th a Bf 109 and on the 30th a He 111 damaged. He damaged two Bf 109s on 2 September and a Bf 110 on 3 September, damaged Do 17s on the 14th and 27th, destroyed a Ju 88 on the 30th and got probable Bf 109s on 29 October and 8 November – just after the official end of the Battle. It was a remarkable tally – six destroyed, one probably destroyed and six damaged within the timeframe of the Battle of Britain – and saw him awarded the DFM on 22 October.
After being commissioned, Farnes served as an instructor and fought in Malta with No 229 Squadron as well as serving in North Africa and Iraq. As the war ended, he was in command of two squadrons in the UK.
Remaining in the RAF until 1958, he retired as a Squadron Leader, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.
Vahe Demirjian
Banned
Today, another valiant British airman bites the dust:
Paul Farnes, last Battle of Britain ace, dies aged 101 | News | The Times
With Paul Farnes' death at age 101, just two members of "The Few" who fought in the Battle of Britain (William Clark and John Hemmingway) are alive, and the death of the last fighter pilot involved in the Battle of Britain comes as the UK prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of that epic battle this year. Not hard to imagine Clark and Hemmingway passing away this year given that so many surviving British WW2 airmen have succumbed to the effects of old age, in which case there might be not any surviving British veterans of WW2 on the eve of the UK's celebration of the centennial of the Battle of Britain in 2040.
Paul Farnes, last Battle of Britain ace, dies aged 101 | News | The Times
With Paul Farnes' death at age 101, just two members of "The Few" who fought in the Battle of Britain (William Clark and John Hemmingway) are alive, and the death of the last fighter pilot involved in the Battle of Britain comes as the UK prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of that epic battle this year. Not hard to imagine Clark and Hemmingway passing away this year given that so many surviving British WW2 airmen have succumbed to the effects of old age, in which case there might be not any surviving British veterans of WW2 on the eve of the UK's celebration of the centennial of the Battle of Britain in 2040.