Warbird Information Exchange

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

_________________
WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

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

RIP

_________________
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

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.

_________________
Kevin McCartney

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

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

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.

_________________
A Little VC10derness - A Tribute to the Vickers VC10 - www.VC10.net

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

Not yet, but I will. Thanks.

_________________
A Little VC10derness - A Tribute to the Vickers VC10 - www.VC10.net

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...

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

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.

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

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

_________________
Kevin McCartney