Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Supporting Owners, Builders and Pilots of the Thorp T-18 and its variants.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:33 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:27 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
Attachment:
DSC_0059-X3.jpg
DSC_0059-X3.jpg [ 397.53 KiB | Viewed 8783 times ]
Attachment:
Form John.jpg
Form John.jpg [ 59.44 KiB | Viewed 8783 times ]
Attachment:
Labor Day Pete 032.jpg
Labor Day Pete 032.jpg [ 307.14 KiB | Viewed 8783 times ]
Last night I lost my good friend and wing man John Kerr after a short and hard fought battle with cancer . If you never knew John he was a real people person . Stop by his hangar with a problem and he would find a way to fix it or machine a new part for you . He was known around Gillespie field as the man to go to if you had a sheet metal problem . He has repaired everything including parts for a P-51 and seat track fittings for a Mooney . John over the course of many years has built 3 T-18 (and a "Pete") and his last AC is sadly up for sale . John would tell me LONG stories of how he got started as an apprentice at Convair and working on the "line" pounding out parts . Shortly there after he started his first T-18 and would tell me about his meeting with John Thorp and the many trips to the Burbank area to stock up on surplus items for his Thorp .

What I will probably miss the most were our flights together as a flight of two and trying to explain to John how to fly formation ! Somehow we made it from point A to point B and after landing had a good laugh about the flight . John will be buried at the Miramar National Cemetery on the 16th of January . I do not know a time yet , but will post that info. when I get it .

ONE LAST FLIGHT WEST MY FRIEND

Regards,

RB
NX115RX


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
Fraser MacPhee
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:49 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:57 am
Posts: 722
Images: 19
Location: USA
So sorry Rich - he was a fine man who made the earth a better place.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
James Grahn
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 2:14 am 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:16 pm
Posts: 1434
Images: 0
Location: USA
Shit. That was quick. Sorry to hear that. Great man. Great sense of humor. We will miss him.
Cubes


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
dan
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:04 am 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:30 am
Posts: 898
Images: 0
Location: USA
God Bless John, Condolences to his Family Rich and also to yours as I know you two were Buds. He will be missed and he sure left alot of good memories with us all.......Blessings Dan


Top
 Profile  
 
jrevens
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:16 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:13 pm
Posts: 789
Location: USA
Oh man, I'm so sorry to hear that, Rich. He was a good man and a good friend to you and so many others. I'm sure it was a great comfort to him to have you there to help with his T-18 in the end. God bless you, Rich. My condolences to you and to John's family.

_________________
John Evens
Arvada, Colorado

T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE


Top
 Profile  
 
Lou
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:14 pm 
Sr. Member
Sr. Member
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:04 pm
Posts: 375
Images: 3
Location: San Bernadino, CA
Oh man Rich so sorry to hear this. John was a great guy, he will be missed

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
N2056
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2016 2:29 am 
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:37 pm
Posts: 4
Location: USA
Where to start?
As his son I was the ever faithful copilot. There are stories acquired over time flying with my father that are near and dear to my heart. To read the responses here that testify to who he was are uplifting and appreciated more than you will know. Rich, there is no way in the world I can thank you enough for the incredible effort you have put out in getting N2056 back in the air and ready for sale.


Top
 Profile  
 
Rich Brazell
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 2:09 pm 
Hero Member
Hero Member

Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
John Kerr will be interned at the Miramar National Cemetery on the 16th of January 2017 at 1030 hours (PST) . If you care to attend the cemetery is just West of the MCAS Miramar (KNKX) . If you have never been to a ceremony at a National Cemetery they start ON TIME !

Regards,
RB


Top
 Profile Personal album  
 
JackPark
 Post subject: Re: SAD NEWS
PostPosted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 10:33 am 
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:52 pm
Posts: 10
Roaming about this site, I finally got to recall the name of the fellow for whom I test flew his first T-18: John Kerr. Cancer. Damn. Closure on my stroll down memory lane. RIP, John.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

[ Time : 0.188s | 14 Queries | GZIP : On ]