Dick Lawyer

Deep sadness from Mojave Airport - One of our very good friends and a big part of Mojave Airport's flying history past away this last weekend.

It was just last month that I told you about Dick Lawyer flying the F-100F at Mojave Airport for FTA. Dick's wife, Gayle emailed to tell me that they wouldn't be able to make the Veterans Day Ceremony this year because he was going Elk hunting, then I received a call from their close friend and neighbor Gayle Knight this morning telling me the unbelievable news that Dick had passed away late Saturday night while working at the computer. Al and I are just stunned and speechless.

Slow talking, with a dry sense of humor, Dick had a way of making everyone around him feel at ease. We always admired his piloting skills and valued his friendship. He shared flying stories with us that we still laugh about today; of course, a big part of the humor was his slow, low-key mannerisms when describing a particular situation.

He flew T-33's, QF-86's, QF-100's and QF-4's for Flight Systems, Tracor Flight Systems, Marconi Flight Systems and BAE Flight Systems at Mojave Airport.

Dick flew nearly 50 different types of aircraft from small single engine prop planes to supersonic jets. He lived to fly and soared through the air in the Lockheed F-80/ T-33 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter, and U-2 High Altitude Reconnaissance Spyplane; North American T-6 Texan; F-86 Sabre, FJ-4 Fury, F-100 Super Sabre (all models) and T-39 Sabreliner; McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and F-101 Voodoo; Convair F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart; Republic F-105 Thunderchief; and the Martin B-57 Canberra.

He was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, the USAF Fighter Weapons Instructors School and was a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

He was scheduled to fly with students Monday morning at the National Test Pilot School where he was employed as an instructor pilot.

"His church was Mojave Airport," his wife told her friends. "He loved flying in any kind of airplane, just so he was off the ground."

Dick was born on August 11, 1932, and was a graduate from USC in 1955, earning a BS Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He had a distinguished service career in the USAF from the mid 1950's until retirement in May 1982.

He was selected as astronaut December 11, 1965, on the Manned Orbiting Laboratory project, a classified military manned space station. When MOL project was canceled, he was serving as Deputy Commander, Operations, Tactical Air War Center, Eglin AFB, Florida. He was a qualified military pilot; and graduate of Aerospace Research Pilot School.

Supportive of his wife and family, Dick often planned activities that involved being with his kids and grandkids. Dick was an avid hunter and fisherman. He planned a trip to Alaska every year in August for several days of Halibut fishing. He was putting the August 2006 fishing trip together last month!

We feel a tremendous loss, and offer our deepest sympathies and prayers to Gayle and the families who loved and treasured Dick's devotion and his passion for flight.

Al Hansen and Charlie Wallasch will be honored to salute Dick with a flyby at his Mojave Airport Memorial Service just now in the planning stages.

God bless Dick Lawyer and his wonderful spirit that touched so many people here at the airport. He lived his life well and made a difference to scores of people.

Until next week. . . . . "Keep 'em flying!"