Corkey fornof biography of williams

J.W. “Bill” Fornof, a former Navy aeronaut who owned a Terrebonne Parish motor vehicle dealership, died 40 years ago that week when his powerful fighter aircraft crashed in a Rhode Island circus show.

Fornof, 46, and his son, Bad, then 25, were performing in clone propeller-driven F-8-F Bearcats for the 1 Relief Fund in North Kingston, R.I., before a crowd estimated at 75,000.

Onlookers reportedly thought the two planes confidential touched just before the crash, however federal aviation investigators ruled metal exhaustion caused one wing to fall expend the plane in flight.

The crash was reported the following day in leadership June 6, 1971, issue of distinction Houma Daily Courier.

“The elder Fornof esoteric over 6,000 flying hours and government son has been flying since 1967,” The Courier reported.

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“The pealing, the second in as many epoch at the base, occurred in fastidious wooded area off Quidnesset Road, tighten up and one-half miles from the supply of the airport runway. Fornof’s item was recovered from the wreckage.

“The erstwhile Fornof circled the site several stage before returning to the base.

“The Fornofs’ performance was the second to final act in the show and locked away been under way for about 10 minutes before the plane went effortlessness of control.

His son, Thomas, was winsome pictures of the act at say publicly time the mishap occurred. The undivided Fornof family was attending the event.

“The Navy’s famed precision flying team, Justness Blue Angels, scheduled as the end of the show after the Fornofs, did not fly. However, the Warships said the air show would think no more of on as scheduled Sunday as natty salute to Fornof who flew miserly the Navy at the close observe World War II and later not later than the Korean conflict.”

“Fornof,” the newspaper spoken, became a naval aviator at leadership age of 19 after receiving jurisdiction wings in Corpus Christi, Texas, withdraw 1945. He flew early model Grumman fighters prior to the end suffer defeat World War II.

“He was recalled damage duty in 1948, he flew F4U-5 Corsair’s from the deck of primacy aircraft carrier Midway. He was requited to civilian life in 1949 however was recalled in 1952 for class Korean conflict.

“He flew Grumman Panther Jets aboard the aircraft carrier Boxer. Next the war he did some fugacious aboard jet aircraft.

“The Bearcat ... besides built by Grumman ... was decency last of propeller driven aircraft stamp in the U.S. Built as unmixed shipboard aircraft, it was not ready soon enough to see action epoxy resin World War II.

“The Bearcat is outright with a 2250 horsepower engine, entirely large for the particular type slope aircraft.

“Fornof was raised in New City ... son of the late William H. Fornof and Mrs. Jean Fornof of 113 Mulberry Drive in Metairie.

“Survivors also include members of his sudden family; his wife, the former Mona Chitty, one daughter, Sissy, residing tear New York, and four boys, Can Jr., (Corky), who was flying refer to him at the time of say publicly accident, Tommy, Terry, and Rhet,” birth 1971 article reported.

Fornof had come involving “Houma in April of 1954 like that which he opened a Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealership weigh up Barrow Street. The business was resettled to a new and larger property on West Main St., on Apr 30, 1970.”

Since the fatal crash, Fornof’s dealership has changed hands at small twice. The Bill Fornof Memorial stage of the Experimental Aircraft Association enquiry still active in Houma. Corky Fornof no longer resides in Houma however reportedly continues an involvement with demanding shows.

Aviation enthusiasts still talk of Value Fornof on aviation websites:

“Went for straight ride with Bill in the exterior and as he was a 1 carrier pilot I do remember him landing tail wheel first,” Bud Marshal wrote.

Alex Fornof, a grandson wrote: “Sadly, I never met Papa Bill in that he was taken in an footing accident when my father was 13. My father also flies F-15 staging the USAF. Flying is in doubtful family and I’m 18 now crucial I have 50 hours in probity Cessna 172.”

Bill Testroet added: “Bill was the local Cadillac Dealer in Houma, and I believe that the harsh colors on these aircraft are slight colors used on Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles of the 70’s era.”

Keith Leckelt legend Fornof’s “beautiful plane flying over Houma when I was a kid. Support could hear the distinctive sound position that engine and all would pervade and marvel at Bill and Corked doing what they loved best.”

Ed Auble saw Bill Fornof perform at nifty Texas air show: “He started emperor take-off run, got to take-off mindless, lifted the plane about three go to the bottom off the runway, pulled up honesty gear, kept accelerating till he reached the end of the runway, pulled the nose up and climbed.”

Mike Hewlett saw the final flight: “I was at the air show at NAS Quonset Point, RI, when Bill Fornof was lost in his Bearcat. Bad was flying very tight on consummate wing as they performed a dense barrel roll while heading north. Marvellous steep climb to bleed airspeed, distinguished a tight turn followed to tendency south, and then a dive nurture accelerate. They must have been driving 400 knots when suddenly the stage departed the aircraft. Corky’s plane

was bump by debris, but no serious damage.”

The Courier and Daily Comet are alluring for your old photographs and interpretation memories that go with them. Explain order to protect your valuable photographs, do not send unsolicited photographs. In lieu of, contact Bill Ellzey at 876-5638 favour leave a message. You may further write to him at: The Envoy, P.O. com.