John
John Clark Aiken, Sr
d. August 22, 2009
John Clark Aiken Sr., of Poland, passed away Saturday, Aug. 22, at the age of 91.
He was born June 11, 1918 in Warren, Ohio, to Mary Stoner and Edgar L.
Aiken.
He was reared in Vienna, Ohio, where he graduated from Vienna High School. He played Varsity Basketball at both Vienna and then at Youngstown College (now YSU), where he was also a member of the Lamba Chi Fraternity and completed the Army Aviation Program before enlisting in the Army Air Corps.
Upon joining the Army Air Corps, he was among the first class to complete pilot training for the P-51 fighter plane. Initially deployed through England to the 12th Air Force in North Africa, John participated in the initiation of the 15th Air Force as a member of the 82nd Fighter Group. He qualified in the Lockheed P-38 long-range fighter-bomber, and flew 53 missions over enemy territory, including bomber escort and close air support of the Allied invasion at Anzio. He completed 53 missions, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and is credited with two air combat victories.
Once stateside, John was stationed at Van Nuys, Calif., where he conducted flight training at Muroc Air Field (now Edwards AFB) and performed Hollywood stunt flying.
After the war, John returned to the Mahoning Valley and was a flight instructor and executive pilot for Beckett Aviation before joining Capital Airlines in 1948.
He married another pilot and aviation enthusiast, Billie Huxley Findley, in 1956 and lived in Poland, Ohio, before being transferred to Florida in 1964. During that time, John was active in the Youngstown Symphony Society and the Poland Presbyterian Church. He was a founding member of the Poland Swim Club.
He flew commercially for 30 years, flying such diverse airplanes as the Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, Vickers Viscount, Lockheed Constellation, and Boeing 727. In April of 1967, he performed an emergency gear-up landing of a United Airlines Boeing 727 at MacDill Air Force Base with no passenger injuries, and with such minimal damage to the airplane that it was repaired and returned to service. He was awarded the President¹s Award for Valor.
John continued to advance his flying expertise and was chosen as a Flight Manager and FAA Check Pilot, the highest civil aviation license. He retired from United in 1978.
John was Treasurer of the Plantation Methodist Church and active in the Fort Lauderdale Symphony. John enjoyed travel, camping, classic and antique automobiles and owned a 33-foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser for deep-sea fishing.
He and Billie supported their children¹s competitive swimming in varsity and intramural competitions. He was active in the National P-38 Association.
John Aiken was well known as a kind and gentle man with an eager willingness to help his friends, neighbors and church whenever possible. He enjoyed model aviation, supporting youth athletics, and sport fishing.
John and Billie retired back to Poland in 1981, where John rejoined the Poland Presbyterian Church, enjoyed YSU alumni sporting events, golf and good friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert Stoner Aiken and Edgar Lloyd Aiken of Vienna, Ohio; as well as his wife Billie, who passed away in 1985.
He is survived by his son, John Clark Aiken Jr. of Portland, Ore. and daughter, Mary Amanda Hudak of Kalispell, Mont.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral services will be held at the Poland Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
He was born June 11, 1918 in Warren, Ohio, to Mary Stoner and Edgar L.
Aiken.
He was reared in Vienna, Ohio, where he graduated from Vienna High School. He played Varsity Basketball at both Vienna and then at Youngstown College (now YSU), where he was also a member of the Lamba Chi Fraternity and completed the Army Aviation Program before enlisting in the Army Air Corps.
Upon joining the Army Air Corps, he was among the first class to complete pilot training for the P-51 fighter plane. Initially deployed through England to the 12th Air Force in North Africa, John participated in the initiation of the 15th Air Force as a member of the 82nd Fighter Group. He qualified in the Lockheed P-38 long-range fighter-bomber, and flew 53 missions over enemy territory, including bomber escort and close air support of the Allied invasion at Anzio. He completed 53 missions, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and is credited with two air combat victories.
Once stateside, John was stationed at Van Nuys, Calif., where he conducted flight training at Muroc Air Field (now Edwards AFB) and performed Hollywood stunt flying.
After the war, John returned to the Mahoning Valley and was a flight instructor and executive pilot for Beckett Aviation before joining Capital Airlines in 1948.
He married another pilot and aviation enthusiast, Billie Huxley Findley, in 1956 and lived in Poland, Ohio, before being transferred to Florida in 1964. During that time, John was active in the Youngstown Symphony Society and the Poland Presbyterian Church. He was a founding member of the Poland Swim Club.
He flew commercially for 30 years, flying such diverse airplanes as the Douglas DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, Vickers Viscount, Lockheed Constellation, and Boeing 727. In April of 1967, he performed an emergency gear-up landing of a United Airlines Boeing 727 at MacDill Air Force Base with no passenger injuries, and with such minimal damage to the airplane that it was repaired and returned to service. He was awarded the President¹s Award for Valor.
John continued to advance his flying expertise and was chosen as a Flight Manager and FAA Check Pilot, the highest civil aviation license. He retired from United in 1978.
John was Treasurer of the Plantation Methodist Church and active in the Fort Lauderdale Symphony. John enjoyed travel, camping, classic and antique automobiles and owned a 33-foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser for deep-sea fishing.
He and Billie supported their children¹s competitive swimming in varsity and intramural competitions. He was active in the National P-38 Association.
John Aiken was well known as a kind and gentle man with an eager willingness to help his friends, neighbors and church whenever possible. He enjoyed model aviation, supporting youth athletics, and sport fishing.
John and Billie retired back to Poland in 1981, where John rejoined the Poland Presbyterian Church, enjoyed YSU alumni sporting events, golf and good friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert Stoner Aiken and Edgar Lloyd Aiken of Vienna, Ohio; as well as his wife Billie, who passed away in 1985.
He is survived by his son, John Clark Aiken Jr. of Portland, Ore. and daughter, Mary Amanda Hudak of Kalispell, Mont.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral services will be held at the Poland Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.
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