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.
Melden B. Suggett, Jr.
1933 ~ 2023
Captain Melden ‘Mel’ Suggett, Jr., age 89, died February 12, 2023, after a long struggle with dementia. ‘Mel’ was born and raised in a rural setting near Woodland, California. His father, Mel Sr., was a rice grower working fields that would today be visible from the airport traffic area at Sacramento Airport.
Mel was a good student and an excellent athlete. His athletic skills at Woodland High School won Mel accolades at All State high school competitions and a scholarship to Olympic College in Bremerton, WA where he studied Forestry. Like many other future aviators, upon acquiring two years of college credits Mel applied for USAF Aviation Cadet pilot training. After preflight at Lackland AFB, TX Mel did well in Primary and Basic Flight Training. Completing the Aviation Cadet flight training, Mel was commissioned and rated as a USAF pilot. From Texas he traveled north to Tinker AFB, OK for C-124 Globemaster transition training. With transition behind him, Mel reported for operational assignment to the 62nd Troop Carrier Wing at McChord AFB. This began a long-time association with aviation centered in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
James Edward Swanson
1940 ~ 2022
Captain James Edward Swanson, age 81 of Eagan and Edina, MN, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2022, after a valiant battle with acute pulmonary problems...
Jim was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan on March 19 1940, to the late Edward and Vera (Fearing) Swanson. The oldest of five children, Jim grew up in nearby Florence and Wabeno, Wisconsin where his father worked as a baker. As a young lad Jim worked alongside his father in the bakery. He attended Wabeno High School where he was known as a well-rounded student having participated in almost every sport and school activity including basketball, football, band, choir, glee club, and student council.
It was natural for Jim to go on to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison. As these were the years of mandatory ROTC, he opted for Air Force ROTC. During his senior year Jim received FAA approved training in light aircraft as a prescreening for USAF Pilot Training. The same week he received his BA degree in political science, he was also commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force Reserve.