Gone West: M.R. (Bob) Baas

Our good friend Bob Baas died September 19, 2008, at Baylor Hospital, Grapevine, Texas. He was member #20 in the Antique Airplane Association and a member of the Texas Chapter. This is a big loss to the Antique Airplane Association.

I first met Bob in 1967 in Tulsa where he was a member of Tulsa Chapter #2 and flying for American Airlines. He and Joan later moved to the DFW area with AA and became a member of the Texas Chapter with his Piper J-5. A warm friendship developed between Bob, E.M. Johnson and me. Many times we talked, laughed and planned new things for the Chapter while pulling together the newsletter or publishing historic articles with photos to promote the Antique Airplane movement. Bob restored a C-170 and later a C-337.

The three of us made many trips to Oshkosh, Ottumwa, Blakesburg and many other fly-ins together. In later years Don Pellegreno gave us the title of "The Trinity." When Bob retired from American Airlines he had flown DC-7s, B-707s, B-727s and Douglas DC-10s. Bob will certainly be missed by his many friends and remembered for his contributions to the Antique Airplane Association.

-Joe Haynes

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