Richard 'Dick' Haglund
1933 ~ 2023
Captain Richard Haglund, age 90, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2023. The last six months of his life ‘Dick’ suffered from a backbone failure.
Dick was born on February 21, 1933, in Opstead, Minnesota to parents Oscar and Annie Haglund. He was number three of four boys in birth order. During his childhood, the Haglund family lived on a dairy farm in Mille Lacs County and as a youngster Dick carried out farm chores. He attended Isle High School located adjacent to the southeast corner of Mille Lacs Lake. Dick was a good student and a good athlete, playing football and basketball in high school. He was endowed with a good singing voice which enhanced his ability to yodel. Dick enjoyed running as fast as possible and told his friends that some day he would fly.
After high school Dick enlisted in the Air Force but was medically discharged for a skin disorder on his feet. Thereafter he studied for two years at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. Concurrently with his enrollment at Macalester, Dick took flying lessons at Flying Cloud Airport. To finance the flying lessons, he worked as a night watchman. Dick persisted with this rigorous lifestyle and in good time acquired his FAA Commercial/Instrument Pilot ratings as well as a CFI Instructor rating. The CFI enabled him to earn income as an instructor while building his flight time. Dick persisted in contacting the employment office at Northwest Airlines regarding pilot hiring. This persistence paid off and Dick was hired by Northwest Airlines on April 04, 1959.
John M Campbell
1941 ~ 2023
Captain John M Campbell, just shy of 82, died Wednesday August 2, 2023, at his home in Mendota Heights surrounded by his wife and family. John was born on September 28, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia as the only child to Lilian Wyche and John Patrick Campbell.
John graduated from John McDonough High School in New Orleans in 1960. During his high school years John was a member of the Civil Air Patrol where he met lifelong friends. The CAP influenced and inspired John’s life-long love of flying. After high school he enrolled at Loyal University in New Orleans to major in physics.
In 1963 John enlisted in the U.S. Navy to enter the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program. Toward the end of his flight training John opted for advanced rotor wing (helicopter) training. After earning his Wings of Gold, he was stationed at NAS Quonset Point in Rhode Island. There he flew SH-3A helicopters, often patrolling for Russian submarines off the East Coast of the United States during the Vietnam War. John opted to leave the active Navy in the spring of 1968 and was hired by Northwest Airlines on May 06, 1968.
Gregory J. Berry
1952 ~ 2023
Captain Gregory James Berry, passed away on August 19, 2023, at his home with his wife Nina and daughters Angela and Natalie by his side after a hard-fought 5-month battle with glioblastoma. He was 70 years old.
Born August 26, 1952, at the Winslow Clinic on Bainbridge Island to John and Carmen Berry, Greg grew up in Eagle Harbor with his two brothers and other long-time island family friends. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1970 as class salutatorian and earned varsity letters in football and basketball.
Greg earned a degree from Seattle University in Business Administration with a minor in Economics. He spent summers fishing in Alaska to help finance college and flying lessons at Boeing Field. He obtained a Private Pilot’s License at age 19. After graduation from college, he pursued his passion for aviation with the U.S. Navy.
David Lundin
1931 ~ 2023
Captain C. David Lundin, age 91, of Dresser, WI, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023, surrounded by family at the Christian Community Homes in Osceola, WI.
Dave was born December 24, 1931, to parents, Carl and Inet Lundin, in Minneapolis, MN. He attended Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1949. He Entered Gustavus Adolphus College to pursue a Pre Law course of studies for 2 Years. He transferred to the University of Minnesota and entered the Law School “2-4” program and accepted an NROTC Scholarship. He graduated June 11, 1955, and was commissioned (Ensign USN, 15 June 1955). He earned his wings in Pensacola, FL, transferring to Corpus Christi, TX and then to Bermuda. In 1959, he left active duty and joined the Ready Reserves, moving back to Minnesota, where he would serve 20+ years as a pilot, and earn top ranking as Captain, USNR. In the reserves, Dave, serving as Squadron CO, and his crew, received the Noel Davis Trophy in 1974 for being the most efficient aviation division of the USNR.
On November 21, 1966, Dave began his commercial pilot career with Northwest Airlines. His initial crew assignment was as a Second Officer on the Boeing 727. {Dave flew the standard NWA MSP base succession of aircraft, retiring on Dec. 12, 1991 as a Classic 747 captain.}
Raymond J. Cornforth
1925 ~ 2023
Captain Raymond ‘Jack’ Cornforth, age 98, took his last flight and left our world very peacefully on Sunday June 25th, surrounded with loving family and friends. Jack came from a very small town in Oklahoma and his love of flying was initially sparked by a couple of $1 airplane rides at the local fair with a kind man and his crop duster airplane. In the Spring of 1943, at the ripe old age 17, he entered basic training with the Army Air Corps. Jack was initially trained as an aircraft mechanic, but later completed pilot training as an Aviation Cadet. In April of 1945, Jack was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded Air Corp Pilot’s wings. He served the rest of the war as a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Pilot
After WWII, and release from Army duty, Jack found employment packing parachutes and working as an aircraft mechanic. He and a coworker heard there were aircraft mechanics jobs in St Paul, Minnesota so off they went. Jack was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines on February 9, 1948. He worked for Northwest Airlines for 44 years serving as a Mechanic, Crew Chief, Flight Engineer, Copilot and Captain. At age 60 Jack confronted FAA mandatory retirement. However, he was eligible to continue working an additional seven years as a flight engineer (2nd officer) on the classic Boeing 747. During those seven years Jack also served Northwest Airlines and the Department of Defense through NWA’s commitment to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) by providing contract transportation for military troops and supplies from the United States to bases in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Allan F. Soverign
1936 ~ 2023
Captain Allan F. Sovereign, age 86, died on February 09, 2023, in Prescott, Arizona.
Little is known of Al’s background. We know he was born in Oklahoma and eventually joined the US Air Force. We also know that Al was qualified as an Air Force Navigator prior to attending pilot training. Al and NWA pilot Gary Pisel were assigned to the same pilot training class at Vance AFB. After graduation Al from Vance AFB, was assigned to Mather AFB, CA, a navigator training base flying the T-29 (Convair 240). Al felt this assignment would be great for accumulating flight time.
More than likely Al probably never anticipated that his twin reciprocating engine qualification would earmark him for a Vietnam assignment flying the C-123. Al shared about a mission into a remote Vietnamese mountain outpost/airstrip. Their arrival was delayed by bad weather for three days, however when they finally landed their much-needed cargo offload of ammo and supplies may have been responsible for saving a company size Army unit.
After completing his C-123 Vietnam tour, Al was assigned to MATS at McGuire AFB, NJ flying the C-135. During his Air Force years Al married his first wife Diane who died prior to his exit from active duty.
Al was hired by NWA on November 04, 1968. His first line assignment was as a Boeing 727 Second Officer based at MSP. He followed the standard Boeing 727, DC-10, and Boeing 747 career track. In addition, Al continued his association with NWA flight training (NATCO). At the time of his retirement, he was flying the classic 747. During most of Al’s NWA career years he resided in Northfield, MN.
The Sovereigns moved to Prescott where Al and Ina built their dream house. The house included a motor home garage and all the extras, including a beer tap by his chair in the den. Since their house was the first on a new street, they got to name the street Sovereign Drive.
Ina Louise Sovereign, age 88, passed away on December 01, 2022.
Al Sovereign touched many lives through his roles as a military and airline aviator. He was respected as an instructor/teacher and friend, leaving his handprint on the careers of many.
(~ Bill Day)