Warbird Information Exchange

One of the good guys has flown West. Bill Yoak passed away today. He was a great guy and a true gentleman. His love for the Greatest Generation and a desire to share history with the public was amazing. Godspeed Bill.

Bill Yoak and "Quick Silver". I took this at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in Sept. 2007.

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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."

You said it, Jerry: Sharing history...especially with the kids.



(My youngest son a few moons ago...)

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

No finer Gentleman in Aviation, period.
A mentor, colleague and friend.

Bill will be missed.

I remember the lineup at the gathering. There were hundreds waiting to sit in Quicksilver. I don't think anyone left disappointed.
This is the mark of someone who realized that they were not just an owner, but a custodian of history, with a deep desire to share it with many.
I never had the privilege to meet Bill, I always admired that he gave so many the thrill just to sit in that immaculate Mustang.

My sincere condolences to his friends and family.

Bill will be missed.

Andy Scott

I only met him once, at GML, but for me the sign fixed on his immaculate polished P-51 summed up his attitude to sharing his aircraft with the many standing in line to look at it and sit in the cockpit. "Please touch."

I didn't know him. Rest in peace Bill.

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When you meet a Veteran shake his or her hand and thank them, they earned your freedom.
I plan to fly in as many B-25 as possible be fore I die! B-25 for ever!!!

One of my fondest memories of Bill Yoak is sitting under the wing of of Quicksilver before Scott flew his display at Monroe a few years back.

In the same thought he would relate the intracacies of P-51 gear doors to the things that really matter in life.

Although I saw Bill at several events after that, that discussion cemented in my mind that while we have a lot of focus and investment in warbird aircraft, the true value in warbirds is found in the people.

Woe is us that he is gone.....

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Rauhbatz
Commemorative Air Force
CAF Ohio Wing/Airbase Georgia Member
PT-19/26, T-34 CAF Pilot


Favorite quote from Wind, Sand & Stars - A. St. Exupuery "friends are like trees...when they are gone we miss their shade"

How very sad. I never met Bill in person, but I interviewed him on three occasions about the time he spent on Baa Baa Blacksheep- almost 4 hours. He could really tell a story.

Godspeed Bill.

Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

Does anybody know what happened? Bill was too young for something like this to happen. He was one of the nicest guys in the warbird community. His personality and talents will be greatly missed by all of us. Sad day for sure.

I wrote this up early this morning.....

http://photorecon.net/bill-yoak-has-gone-west

Bill had been fighting cancer for several years, he put up a good fight, but in the end it got him....

For those who didn't know him, he was a super nice guy. For those who did know him, well I don't have to tell you he was a super nice guy, you already know.

It really hurt my son who spent a fair amount of time flying with Scooter and my GF who thought the world of Bill. Waiting funeral arrangements now...

Mark H

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Fly safe or you get to meet me .......

Thats too bad. I never met him but I knew Scooter from school and a few Florida airshows.

This truly sucks. I met Bill a couple of times. Real nice guy. I'm feeling for his son right now. Just beside myself with this news. Condolences to Scott and the rest of the family.

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yoak, he sounds like he had all the embodiments of what we would all want to have and meet in a warbird gentleman and in a gentleman as a whole. Another great loss to be mourned and remembered.

Rest in Peace

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Zero Surprise!!...

Real nice write-up there Mark. I am sorry I never met Bill. My condolences to all affected by his passing.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

That is indeed a beautiful write-up. In our discussions he told me so, soooo many stories, that I cannot remember them all. But there was one thing that stuck with me. He told me he flew every variant of the Corsair expect the F2G.

Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!