Robert Mikesh

[Jim MacDonald]

As reported on the J-Aircraft site:

"Most sad to relate, Robert C. Mikesh passed this morning, just shy of his 95th birthday, according to his son Chris Mikesh."

Mikesh was the Museum Curator at the NASM for many years and wrote many books, mainly on WWII Japanese aircraft.

Mac

[Paul Stroud]

His 'Restoring Museum Aircraft' is one of my favourite books. He left one heck of a legacy. RIP

[Pat Carry]

RIP

[old iron]

Bob was a friend of mine for many years, and I greatly cherish opportunities to help edit a couple of his books. He was always available to answer question, even from a young college student which is how I met him 4 decades ago. His contributions to NASM, in accessions to the museum collections, restoration curator for aircraft such as the German Albatros IVa, author of various of the "Aircraft of the National Air and Space Museum" series, and as one who popularised NASM restorations in Wings and Airpower magazines were legion.

Bob was also a combat pilot and a Cessna O-2 that he flew in Vietnam is in the NASM collection, though still in storage. He had a special love for the Martin B-52 Canberra.

A good life, well spent.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Sorry to hear about Bob's passing. I only met him a couple of times, but he was instrumental in changing Maureen O'Hara's mind and allowing the Naval Aviation Museum to permanently loan the Sikorsky VS-44A to the New England Air Museum. Sikorsky spent ten years restoring it and now everyone can enjoy this magnificent aircraft in all it's glory.
Thank you and Godspeed Bob Mikesh.
Jerry

[Archer]

A long time ago I was given one of his articles about restoring aircraft and got told: "that's how it should be done" or words to that effect. Based on that I figured I should get a copy of his book, until I saw the price.... No doubt those will only go up in value now. Sorry to hear of his passing, he has done a lot for the aircraft restoration world, museum world... heck, let's just say world.

[Randy Wilson]

Archer - have you checked abebooks.com for the book? I just looked and they offer several good or better copies at what I'd consider reasonable prices. Just FYI.

Randy

[Archer]

Not yet, but I will. Thanks.

[JohnB]

Let's not forget his Air Force career, he was a contemporary of my father in the service and I believe we were in Japan around the same time.

I Give a lot of credit to western historians who specialize in Japanese aircraft of the Pacific war. He and Francillion were certainly leaders in that area.I

RIP...

[Warbirdnerd]

A long time ago I was given one of his articles about restoring aircraft and got told: "that's how it should be done" or words to that effect. Based on that I figured I should get a copy of his book, until I saw the price.... No doubt those will only go up in value now. Sorry to hear of his passing, he has done a lot for the aircraft restoration world, museum world... heck, let's just say world.

eBay has a bunch of his books too. You can set up an email alert (using his name or the book title) to notify you when a new item gets added to eBay.

[old iron]

Here is a memorial to Bob on the airandspace.si.edu website:

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/robert-c-bob-mikesh