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The following appeared in the Anchorage Daily News today:
Anchorage resident James Robert "Bob" Long, 89, died October 28, 2003 at Anchorage Pioneers' and Veterans' Home.
A reception and fly-by will be a noon Monday at Northern Air Cargo's maintenance hangar in Anchorage. Bob was born October 2, 1914, in Seattle.
His Alaska family wrote: "With thoughts of college evaporating with the Depression, Bob looked to aviation as a means of gaining an education and earning a living. Bob obtained both his airframe and engine mechanic certificates in 1937. When he got his commercial license, one the Wright brothers signed it for him. His employment took him to Boeing Field, where he worked on the second Ryan ST ever built. The year 1939 brought first a move to Fairbanks and then to Anchorage, where he worked for Kirk's Airmotive at Merrill Field."
"An offer from Hans Mirow in Nome resulted in Bob moving there to both fly and maintain the first Stinson A Trimotor in Alaska. In 1942 he accepted a position with Sig Wien in Fairbanks. Then it was on to Northwest Airlines as a pilot/mechanic on C-47s, which were being operated throughout Alaska. In 1944, Bob went to work for the newly formed Alaska Star Airlines in Fairbanks. He remained with the airline, which was to become Alaska Airlines, until his retirement in 1973. For many years Bob was the most senior captain at Alaska Airlines, and his pioneering achievements in aviation are many. He worked on getting the C-130 certified for civilian use and met many other operational challenges for Alaska Airlines such as creating air routes and instrument approach procedures for dozens of Alaska's airports. He modified the Pilgrim to accept a larger engine in the '40's and later he helped Boeing on the modifications that allowed 727 and 737 aircraft to land on gravel airstrips. After his retirement from Alaska Airlines, he was immediately hired by Northern Air Cargo, where he spent 25 year training and mentoring so many pilots and mechanics. During his career, Bob logged more than 24,800 hours of flight time. He is a true legend in Alaska Aviation.
He received the coveted Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 1994 and was acknowledged by the Alaska State Legislature for his achievements and contributions in Alaska Aviation."
He is survived by his sister, Erna McKenzie of Oregon; "adopted" Alaska family, the Sholtons of Anchorage; and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Alaska Aviation Museum or the Salvation Army.
Anchorage resident James Robert "Bob" Long, 89, died October 28, 2003 at Anchorage Pioneers' and Veterans' Home.
A reception and fly-by will be a noon Monday at Northern Air Cargo's maintenance hangar in Anchorage. Bob was born October 2, 1914, in Seattle.
His Alaska family wrote: "With thoughts of college evaporating with the Depression, Bob looked to aviation as a means of gaining an education and earning a living. Bob obtained both his airframe and engine mechanic certificates in 1937. When he got his commercial license, one the Wright brothers signed it for him. His employment took him to Boeing Field, where he worked on the second Ryan ST ever built. The year 1939 brought first a move to Fairbanks and then to Anchorage, where he worked for Kirk's Airmotive at Merrill Field."
"An offer from Hans Mirow in Nome resulted in Bob moving there to both fly and maintain the first Stinson A Trimotor in Alaska. In 1942 he accepted a position with Sig Wien in Fairbanks. Then it was on to Northwest Airlines as a pilot/mechanic on C-47s, which were being operated throughout Alaska. In 1944, Bob went to work for the newly formed Alaska Star Airlines in Fairbanks. He remained with the airline, which was to become Alaska Airlines, until his retirement in 1973. For many years Bob was the most senior captain at Alaska Airlines, and his pioneering achievements in aviation are many. He worked on getting the C-130 certified for civilian use and met many other operational challenges for Alaska Airlines such as creating air routes and instrument approach procedures for dozens of Alaska's airports. He modified the Pilgrim to accept a larger engine in the '40's and later he helped Boeing on the modifications that allowed 727 and 737 aircraft to land on gravel airstrips. After his retirement from Alaska Airlines, he was immediately hired by Northern Air Cargo, where he spent 25 year training and mentoring so many pilots and mechanics. During his career, Bob logged more than 24,800 hours of flight time. He is a true legend in Alaska Aviation.
He received the coveted Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 1994 and was acknowledged by the Alaska State Legislature for his achievements and contributions in Alaska Aviation."
He is survived by his sister, Erna McKenzie of Oregon; "adopted" Alaska family, the Sholtons of Anchorage; and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Alaska Aviation Museum or the Salvation Army.
