Warbird Information Exchange

Just for those of you who knew Dick, He passed away on Friday at the age of 77. Dick had been involved in the warbird movement for over 30 years and was very involved in the Warbirds of America. I know that over the years he has had numerous warbirds which include part ownership in a TBM, a T-28, Twin Bonanza, Navion and also helped to start a military museum in South Bend, IN. He was a super guy and he was the one who gave me my first warbird ride in his T-28. Arrangements are currently pending. Godspeed to you Doc.

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Col Craig Duck
Life Member CAF
Life Member YAF
Life Member EAA

Sorry to hear that.

My condolences to his family.

The first time I was in a T-28 was with him.

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Commemorative Air Force
Experimental Aircraft Association
Warbirds of America

What are you waiting for? Join us!

Best way to contact me- email my last name @gmail.com

Very sad.

Dick and Jeanne were the ones who got me to join Warbird's of America many years ago. It was because of their attitude and inclusive nature that I was not put off by the shakers and movers in the warbird movement in the 1980's. I was a nobody, private pilot and the next thing I knew I was at Oshkosh, working the membership booth at WOA HQ and getting the opportunity to meet so many people that today, I still call friends.

If you can, could post a link to any arrangements there might be?

I will miss Dick very much.

Jerry O'Neill

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

Real Sorry to hear that, I knew him back when I lived in South Bend and was going to Notre Dame. His brother was in charge of security for ND if I recall correctly (I never had any problems with them). I was at the airport one night and he gave me a T-28 course on what to look for, look at, and how not to screw yourself into the ground...........

Heck of a good guy.

Anyone know how Ray Stutsman is?

Mark H

Very sad, my thoughts are with his friends and family.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

In 1982 I ferried a Tora Zero AI-101 from DSM to Hamilton, Ontario Canada for the new owner. After buzzing the Victory Air Museum and Earl Reinert I headed out over the lake and landed at Elkhart for fuel and a weather check. Since it was getting dark I began looking for a motel when Dick invited me to RON with him and Jeannie at their home. I had known him for many years previous when flying with the Jaybird Flight Team, but we had never been close. That evening we enjoyed a home cooked meal and some beers before retiring. The next AM after breakfast we went by his office before heading to the airport. I really appreciated his hospitality and for years afterward we always had some good chats when I'd see him at different shows. He was a real leader in the WARBIRD movement and his presence will be missed. Our prayers go out to the family.

Jake Fendermen

Dick will be missed. He was part of warbirds when I came in almost 25 years ago, and along with Jean and Damion some of my favorite people.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

I saw Ray Stutsman at an airshow last year, he is still getting around but his health is not so good. Between Ray and Dick, they are the ones that truly got me involved in warbirds. Bet heck, when you you get to grow up with a P-47 "little Demon", P-51 "Double Trouble", a TBM, T-28, Spitfire in a crate, 50 some odd T-6's, Saeta jets, and at the end of July each year seeing all the East Coast warbirds come into Elkhart for fuel on their way to Oshkosh, its kind of hard not to get into warbirds. Man I miss those days.

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Col Craig Duck
Life Member CAF
Life Member YAF
Life Member EAA

Good to hear that Ray Stutsman is still around. I bought my second T-6 from him back in November of 1984. Dick Thiem was the T-6 test pilot before they were released to the customer. Has anyone out there seen or heard from him. Thanks for any help.

Jake Fendermen

Dick was a navy veteran and his dad had been a Army physician during WW II. He used to wear his dad's military uniform to some of the warbird theme dinners back when the Warbirds of America still had some sense of cameraderie and esprit de corps and fellowship amongst its Oshkosh warbird attendees.
His family is known for their great sense of humour. He and his brothers are named Tom, Dick And Harry. Dick's kids are named Derek, Daria and Damian. Damian took over his father's practice as a podiatrist.
Dick also owned a Taylorcraft L-2 he brought to Oshkosh and when he used to bring the TBM-3R COD, he would load the seats up. This was before they restricted taking passengers during the airshow portion. I personally got three rides for "free" in the TBM. He was a very decent and generous man with a great sense of humour.

Here is the article from the paper:
http://www.legacy.com/southbendtribune/ ... d=91140763
Richard J. Dieter
April 8, 1930 - July 20, 2007
SOUTH BEND - Dr. Richard Joseph Dieter, 77, of South Bend, IN, passed away due to natural causes at 5:30 AM Friday, July 20, 2007, in Memorial Hospital. He was born on April 8, 1930, to the late Edward Jacob and Frances K. (Webster) Dieter in Kentland, IN, and had lived in South Bend since 1942, coming from Spartanburg, SC. Along with his parents, a brother, Harry Webster Dieter, also preceded him in death. Dr. Dieter retired on April 8, 2000, as a self-employed podiatrist in South Bend after 40 years of practice. On August 13, 1955, he married Flora Jean Solzan at Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Bend, IN. She survives. Along with his loving wife, Flora Jean of 51 years, he is survived by one daughter, Daria Denise Dieter of South Bend, IN; two sons, Derek David (Suzy) Dieter of South Bend, IN, and Damian Drew (Ann Marie Stewart) Dieter of South Bend, IN; five grandchildren, Jessica Lynn Dieter, Lindsay Michele Dieter, Nolan Ryan Dieter, Gehrig Richard Fredrick Dieter and Thurman Michael Dieter; a sister, Mary Jane Barkdoll of Gaithersburg, MD; and a brother, Thomas Edward (Emily) Dieter of South Bend, IN. Dick "Doc" Dieter touched everyone who came to know him. He was truly one of those people everybody loved. Whether he was attending one of his grandchildren's sporting events or serving as the convention chairman at the largest air show in the country at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he treated everyone as if they were the most important person in the world. Doc worked as a podiatrist and surgeon on the northwest side of South Bend for over 40 years. He enjoyed his relationship with all of his patients, many times treating them for free if they could not afford medical care. He still made "house calls" to his elderly patients long after most physicians gave up that practice. Dick cared most deeply for his family, cherishing his wife Jean, their children, Derek, Daria and Damian, as well as his five grandchildren. Dick had a way of making all of them feel as if the world revolved around them. He honored his parents, E.J. and Francie, by keeping a close relationship with his own siblings whom they named "Tom, Dick and Harry," as well as his sister, Mary Jane. Surviving are Tom and Mary Jane. His love for flying spanned his entire life. He was director of the Warbirds of America for over three decades and piloted many vintage aircraft including an AT-6, a T-28, the P-51 Mustang, a TBM Avenger, an O-2 as well as many others. For many years Dick kept his T-28 at Stockert's flying service on Lincoln Way West where passers-by could see his "DD" emblazoned in red, white and blue on the tail of the plane. It was with this aircraft that he gave hundreds of rides to anyone who would ask. His hangar at South Bend airport was an unwritten tourist stop in South Bend for many years with his extensive war memorabilia collection. In 1996 he was inducted into the Warbird Hall of Fame in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dick loved to play cards and played religiously after his retirement. Whether it was at the Elks Club on McKinley, Busby's tavern on Lincoln Way or My Place on Portage, you could always find him in a game. He taught his grandsons to play poker and euchre, and they enjoyed trying to beat grandpa long into the night many evenings on Portage Avenue. For some reason, win or lose, the boys always returned home with a little more cash in their pockets than they had left with. Dick's compassionate spirit is his legacy. He will be truly missed by all who loved him. If he were to leave a final thought summing up his life for all to remember, it would be these three words: "Keep 'em Flying!" Dick was a member of the St. Joseph County sheriff's posse/air patrol, a BPOE Elks member of Lodge #235 for 44 years, the director and vice president of the Warbirds of America, the 1967/68 president of Chet Waggoner little league, the owner/founder of Portage Foot Clinic and Surgicenter, a lifetime member of Fitness USA, and was a lifetime parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 PM Wednesday, July 25, 2007, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, July 25, 2007, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home. Military services will follow. Reception and Warbird air tribute will immediately follow the funeral service/visitation at the home of Derek and Suzy Dieter, 4903 Starboard Drive, South Bend, IN. In lieu of memorial contributions, the family requests that you please send flowers. To send condolences or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.kaniewski.com.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 7/22/2007.
Guest Book • Funeral home info

From what my Dad said, up in Oshkosh they are trying to organize a memorial fly-by at the funeral on Wednesday.

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Col Craig Duck
Life Member CAF
Life Member YAF
Life Member EAA

My condolences to his family