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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

PNA/WA/DL Capt. Charles LaRaux

 
 
Good Bye To Charlie Laraux
            January 27, 2015
 
 
Alaskan aviation lost an old friend with the passing of Charlie Laraux on January 26, 2015.
        The following is courtesy of Michael Meiser.
 
 
Charlie was born in Akiak and grew up in Bethel, learned how to fly, fell in love with airplanes, and went to work as a mechanic at Wien in Fairbanks in the late-1950's. The Cold War was in full swing, and the U.S. Navy realized that America was vulnerable to missile attack from submarines in the Arctic Ocean, about which little was known. They set up Ice Island research stations, and Wien got a contract to supply them. One was barely within C46 flying range from Pt. Barrow. The other was far beyond, and very close to the north pole.  
 
Wien needed a long range airplane, and settled in on the Lockheed Constellation. The Connie had about 4000 nm range, comfortably enough for the round trip. When Wien got the Connie, Charlie left the shop floor to became one of Wien's first FE's; and the next time I saw him he was sitting in that important (and warm) Constellation 3rd seat. 
 
Wien got busier and Charlie moved up to copilot on the DC3 and C46. He flew the DEW Line with George Thiele and Holger Jorgensen. In the early 1960's, a small airline called Pacific Northern Airways, formerly Woodley Airways of Anchorage, started flying Connies to Seattle, and lured Charlie away from Wien. His career became a busy one, as Pacific Northern Airlines was purchased by Western Airlines, then, after deregulation, Western was acquired by Delta. Charlie retired from Delta as a 777 Captain. 
 
Charlie Laraux was a Gentle Man. He brightened the room with his smile and easy manner. He made friends easily and kept them. He had a great career. He flew sweetly. He had a nice family and thousands of friends who won't forget him. Neither will I.
 


The staff and board members of the Alaska Aviation Museum send along their own condolences to the friends and family of Charlie Laraux.
-------------------------


~ IN MEMORY ~
PNA/WA/DL Capt Charles 'Charlie' LaRaux
January 17, 1940 ~ January 26, 2015

Word has reached us that retired pilot Captain Charles LaRaux passed away on Monday the 26th.  Charlie had just had his 75th birthday.  Captain LaRaux first was with Wien Air Alaska and then joined Pacific Northern Airlines 03-15-1965, made the merger with Western Airlines and retired with Delta Air Lines.  Charlie had most recently resided   17604 SE 295th St.,  Kent  WA 98042-5711.
Arrangements are pending and will be advised when known. 
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN 
Facebook folks may want to view Charlie's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/charlie.laraux  ...  quite a few very nice pictures have been posted.
...........and this taken from the Wien Air Alaska Facebook page................... 
We lost another old friend today with the passing of Charlie Laraux.
His best friend from high school days, Captain Bill Hately, just called me with the sad news.
Charlie was born in Akiak and grew up in Bethel, learned how to fly, fell in love with airplanes, and went to work as a mechanic at Wien in Fairbanks in the late-1950's.
I first met him in Ft. Yukon, when he was changing a R-2800 that had failed on a Wien C46. It was about -40ºf. and No Fun.
About that time, the Cold War was in full swing, and the U.S. Navy realized that America was vulnerable to missile attack from submarines in the Arctic Ocean, about which little was known. They set up Ice Island research stations, and Wien got a contract to supply them. One was barely within C46 flying range from Pt. Barrow. The other was far beyond, and very close to the north pole.
Wien needed a long range airplane, and settled in on the Lockheed Constellation. The Connie had about 4000 nm range, comfortably enough for the round trip. The Connie required 2 flying pilots, a navigator, and a Flight Engineer. The flight engineer was busy, because what the airplane had in speed and range, it lacked in reliability.
I guess the many -40ºf engine changes and airplane rescues had convinced Charlie the better job was flying airplanes, than repairing them. He had passed his Flight Engineer written exam with that and the big airlines in mind. So when Wien got the Connie, Charlie left the shop floor to became one of Wien's first FE's; and the next time I saw him he was sitting in that important (and warm) Constellation 3rd seat. When the Connie wasn't flying to Ice Islands, Wien used it on the longer routes. FAI-FYU-BTI-FYU-FAI was one. Several times, I thumbed jump seat rides, often with Captain Don Peterson, FO Keith Harrington, and FE Charlie Laraux, on the Ft. Yukon to Barter Island leg.
Wien got busier and Charlie moved up to copilot on the DC3 and C46. He flew the DEW Line with George Thiele and Holger Jorgensen. Jorgy had first met Charlie in Akiak, when Charlie was a cute 6-year-old and full of questions and Holger was in the Territorial Guard. Consequently, Charlie and Jorgy were lifelong friends, and they made a delightful, talented team flying together.
In the early 1960's, a small airline, formerly Woodley Airways of Anchorage, started flying Connie’s to Seattle, and lured Charlie away from Wien. That was Pacific Northern Airlines. After he left Wien, I sort of lost track of him.
His career was a busy one, as Pacific Northern Airlines was purchased by Western Airlines, then, after deregulation, Western was acquired by Delta. Charlie retired from Delta as a 777 Captain.
I didn't run back into Charlie until his retirement, when he and Jorgy were just back from a long riverboat trip from Fairbanks to Koyuk and back via the Chena, Tanana, and Yukon rivers and the Norton Sound. Jorgy was going blind at that time, and Charlie was his river boat captain. I would have loved to watch those two rascals on that boat trip! I know they had fun.
So, what's to say about Laraux? He was a Gentle Man. He brightened the room with his smile and easy manner. He made friends easily and kept them. He had a great career. He flew sweetly. He had a nice family and thousands of friends who won't forget him. Neither will I.
His family is planning a memorial service here in Anchorage at a later date, and I will pass along that info when it becomes available. My condolences to all that loved Charlie Laraux. We'll miss him.


-------- Original message --------
Date:01/26/2015 wallybird.com
Subject: Passing of Charlie LaRaux

We received word from Elizabeth Donovan that Charlie LaRaux passed this morning. Services are pending. Will keep you posted on arrangements.  
Pegg Johansen

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