Grand Champion 2023

Gone West: Joe Earl "Big" Haynes(1927 - 2017)

HAYNES, Joe Earl "Big" May 12, 1927- January 12, 2017 Joe, 89, passed away at home in Dallas, Texas.  Joe found his passion for aviation at the young age of 16, when he sold his car and bought his first airplane. He said he didn't mind that he had to walk everywhere because he knew he could fly anywhere he wanted to go. At age 17, Joe joined the Marines and faithfully served in the Philippines during World War II. While working for 42 years at Chance Vought Aircraft, Inc. / LTV. Joe's career in aeronautics took him all over the world where he worked with the United States and other countries on highly classified military aircraft projects, including the F-8 Crusader, A-7 Corsair II and the B-2 Bomber. In addition to his career in aeronautics, Joe was the proud owner of a 1947 Beechcraft Staggerwing that he piloted to many fly-ins over the years. Joe was a founding member of the Antique Airplane Association of Texas, where he and Joy enjoyed many weekends of flying and socializing with other flying enthusiasts and was also an active supporter of the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field Airport.

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