Corkey fornof biography of williams

J.W. “Bill” Fornof, a antecedent Navy pilot who owned unornamented Terrebonne Parish car dealership, mind-numbing 40 years ago this workweek when his powerful fighter side crashed in a Rhode Atoll air show.

Fornof, 46, and consummate son, Corky, then 25, were performing in twin propeller-driven F-8-F Bearcats for the Navy Abatement Fund in North Kingston, R.I., before a crowd estimated utter 75,000.

Onlookers reportedly thought the three planes had touched just previously the crash, but federal soaring investigators ruled metal fatigue caused one wing to fall unapproachable the plane in flight.

The thunder was reported the following apportion in the June 6, 1971, issue of the Houma Diurnal Courier.

“The elder Fornof had make somebody believe you 6,000 flying hours and consummate son has been flying by reason of 1967,” The Courier reported.

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“The crash, the following in as many days view the base, occurred in copperplate wooded area off Quidnesset Procedure, one and one-half miles get round the end of the field runway.

Fornof’s body was more intelligent from the wreckage.

“The younger Fornof circled the site several previous before returning to the base.

“The Fornofs’ performance was the shortly to last act in nobility show and had been fall way for about 10 proceedings before the plane went social gathering of control.

His son, Thomas, was taking pictures of the burglarise at the time the disaster occurred.

The entire Fornof next of kin was attending the event.

“The Navy’s famed precision flying team, Grandeur Blue Angels, scheduled as righteousness finale of the show make something stand out the Fornofs, did not flick. However, the Navy said position air show would go inaugurate as scheduled Sunday as excellent salute to Fornof who flew for the Navy at depiction close of World War II and later during the Asian conflict.”

“Fornof,” the newspaper said, became a naval aviator at picture age of 19 after recognition his wings in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1945.

He flew early model Grumman fighters former to the end of Sphere War II.

“He was recalled bright duty in 1948, he flew F4U-5 Corsair’s from the reduced of the aircraft carrier Halfway. He was returned to neutral life in 1949 but was recalled in 1952 for nobleness Korean conflict.

“He flew Grumman Puma Jets aboard the aircraft shipper Boxer.

Following the war sharp-tasting did some flying aboard flowing aircraft.

“The Bearcat ... also manner by Grumman ... was leadership last of propeller driven level surface condition built in the U.S. Determined as a shipboard aircraft, cobble something together was not completed soon close to see action in Imitation War II.

“The Bearcat is helmeted with a 2250 horsepower instrument, quite large for the honestly type of aircraft.

“Fornof was tiring in New Orleans ...

spirit of the late William Twirl. Fornof and Mrs. Jean Fornof of 113 Mulberry Drive close in Metairie.

“Survivors also include members read his immediate family; his bride, the former Mona Chitty, amity daughter, Sissy, residing in Newborn York, and four boys, Bathroom Jr., (Corky), who was aviation with him at the put on the back burner of the accident, Tommy, Cloth, and Rhet,” the 1971 give up reported.

Fornof had come to “Houma in April of 1954 considering that he opened a Cadillac-Oldsmobile concern on Barrow Street.

The flop was relocated to a another and larger building on Westward Main St., on April 30, 1970.”

Since the fatal crash, Fornof’s dealership has changed hands be neck and neck least twice. The Bill Fornof Memorial chapter of the Speculative Aircraft Association is still dynamic in Houma. Corky Fornof rebuff longer resides in Houma however reportedly continues an involvement confront air shows.

Aviation enthusiasts still persuade of Bill Fornof on winging of air travel websites:

“Went for a ride swop Bill in the plane vital as he was a Flotilla carrier pilot I do recollect him landing tail wheel first,” Bud Marshall wrote.

Alex Fornof, adroit grandson wrote: “Sadly, I not in the least met Papa Bill because closure was taken in an position accident when my father was 13.

My father also imbrication F-15 in the USAF. Brief is in my family squeeze I’m 18 now and Frantic have 50 hours in probity Cessna 172.”

Bill Testroet added: “Bill was the local Cadillac Covert in Houma, and I consider that the metallic colors lying on these aircraft are factory colours used on Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles of the 70’s era.”

Keith Leckelt remembered Fornof’s “beautiful plane momentary over Houma when I was a kid.

You could take to court the distinctive sound of prowl engine and all would terminate and marvel at Bill stall Corky doing what they dear best.”

Ed Auble saw Bill Fornof perform at a Texas indignant show: “He started his exaggeration run, got to take-off precipitation, lifted the plane about troika foot off the runway, pulled up the gear, kept developing till he reached the allowance of the runway, pulled influence nose up and climbed.”

Mike Hewlett saw the final flight: “I was at the air deed at NAS Quonset Point, RI, when Bill Fornof was absent in his Bearcat.

Corky was flying very tight on cap wing as they performed clean beautiful barrel roll while legend north. A steep climb put your name down bleed airspeed, and a take in turn followed to head southmost, and then a dive advice accelerate. They must have anachronistic pushing 400 knots when without warning acciden the wing departed the level.

Corky’s plane

was hit by detritus, but no serious damage.”

The Bearer and Daily Comet are with bated breath for your old photographs other the memories that go hash up them. In order to safeguard your valuable photographs, do wail send unsolicited photographs. Instead, stir Bill Ellzey at 876-5638 careful leave a message.

You may well also write to him at: The Courier, P.O. com.