Warbird Information Exchange

Not many people on this forum may have known Tracey, but we lost a gentle, kind soul yesterday to a massive heart attack. He was only 48. Tracey was the driving force behind the Hagerstown Aviation Museum and helped rescue many warbirds. His love of Fairchild and the association of that company with Hagerstown, MD helped create a nice collection of airplanes that might have gone to the scrapyard. He owned Hagerstown Aircraft Services and anyone you speak to would tell you it is a good shop and Tracey was always a fair businessman.

In addition, Tracey was a huge supporter of the National Capitol Squadron (CAF) and our airplanes. He painted our BT-13 (for next to nothing) and had been hosting the final assembly of our TBM (free of charge of course) He painted my T-6G for me years ago and I would get many comments on how beautiful it was. It always made me proud to say who did it. He was also involved with the local EAA chapter there and held an open house each fall to help them raise money.

I will miss my friend and fellow warbird nut.

God Speed.

Mike Hogan
NCS MX officer

I'm in absolute and utter shock.

I met Tracey at the TBM workdays in Hagerstown. He was very generous in allowing us the use of his hangar and equipment to put the finishing touches on the Avenger that Jack Kosko and his crew restored for the CAF NCS. I know he was a big supporter of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum as well. At the first workday in December I recall him talking about the C-123 the museum just acquired.

This has been a really bad week for the Warbird Community.

Tracey was also very enthusiastic to bring The Wings of Freedom Tour back into Hagerstown each fall when we came through the area.

With the way this week is going I think I should schedule an appointment with my Dr. for an EKG.

There must be one heck of a special warbird restoration starting up this week in heaven as God has found it necessary to bring up some of the best in the business over the past few days.

Condolences to Tracy's family and friends.

Godspeed Tracy Potter

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America ... explain how you are NOT Racist, you'll except tyranny from a white man, but you won't take health care from a black man.
... Foolish, foolish foolish!!!.

I noticed this as well. I guess the sliver lining is wondering what they're working on up there...

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster