Charley Fox has Left Us

[mrhenniger]

For those of you who have attendede the Geneseo Air Show are likely familiar with the name Charley Fox. He was one of the announcers at the show and a former Spitfire Pilot. I just read this morning Charlie died yesterday in a car crash...

October 19, 2008

Gutsy flyer dies in car crash

By KATHY RUMLESKI
FREE PRESS REPORTER

Decorated Second World War veteran Charley Fox died yesterday in a motor
vehicle accident north of Tillsonburg, reports stated.

Oxford OPP could not confirm the news late last night, but did say an
88-year-old Londoner died in a crash in South-West Oxford Township
yesterday afternoon.

Fox, born in 1920, was a fighter pilot and flight instructor during the
war. He narrowly escaped death in the skies over Europe in the latter
days of the war.

Fox earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for the 153 times he attacked
enemy locomotives and vehicles during the war.

OPP said an 88-year-old was the driver of a Saab that was southbound on
Cranberry Line when it collided with a Pontiac travelling on Ostrander
Road.

Traffic on Cranberry Line is controlled by a stop sign at Ostrander
Road.

An air ambulance was called, but police said the man died at the scene.
The other driver, 29, was released from hospital.

Charlie was a real gentleman. I am glad I had the opportunity to speak with him when I did...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/TheaterScre ... q1sru28ufk

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

[daveymac82c]

That is very sad news. I did a quick google search on his name and found a picture that he was in.

http://www.acesofww2.com/Canada/aces/boyd.htm

I assume Charlie Fox was also a Typhoon pilot having done attacks on trains, right?

-David

[Ontario-Warbird]

assume Charlie Fox was also a Typhoon pilot having done attacks on trains, right?

I am pretty sure Charlie did all his combat flying in Spits during the war.

Very sad and a huge loss to the aviation community here in southern Ontario. I was just talking with him a few weeks ago at the VWoC open house.

http://www.spitcrazy.com/charleyfox.htm

Rest in Peace Charlie

Dave C

[mustangdriver]

I am very sad, he was a very important part of the show.

[Randy Haskin]

That's a man who lived a very full life.

[Hawkeye]

I was really shocked and saddened to hear about Charleys passing. Hes been a familiar face at Geneseo and the Russell show and I've had the pleasure of talking to him several times, he was even kind enough to sign a small metal spitfire for me. You could not meet a nicer man than Charley, and he is really going to be missed.

[MacHarvard]

my apologies for the double post

Last edited by MacHarvard on Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

[MacHarvard]

Charlie was one of the foundations of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association and one of his favourite stories concerned his time as an instructor at #6 Service Flying Training School in Dunnville, Ontario.

He had been on a cross country (by himself) and was returning to Dunnville late one afternoon when he ran into dense fog as he approached Lake Ontario outside of Hamilton. He discovered that if he came down low, he could just make out Highway 6 and knew he could use it as a guide. He zigzagged across the highway for about twenty minutes, straining to keep it in sight and eventually broke out over the Lake and turned for home.

A few weeks later, he was driving his car down the selfsame highway, when he says his heart stopped dead. Lining the roadway, on both sides, were 100 foot hydroelectric transmission towers! They're still there today.

Fate is a fickle lady, Charlie. We'll all miss your guidance, your sense of humour and your dedication to a cause.

Blue Skies, old friend.

Doug MacPhail

[richkolasa]

Oh, this is so sad. Godspeed Charlie, and thank you for your service, in so many ways. Geneseo will not be the same.

Rich

[Dan K]

I'm saddened by the loss...

But also amazed that the media hasn't picked up on Charley's status as the one who ended Rommel's military career.

[Pat M]

This is indeed very sad news. I've had the pleasure of speaking with Charlie at Geneseo every year. I learned this year that his one confirmed kill was against a German flying a captured Spitfire. We've also had the opportunity to read his log books, and he claimed one German staff car on the same day and in the same place that Rommel was straffed.

[V1VRV2]

I was really shocked by this news...even thoughy Charley was 88, I didn't see this coming. Last saw him in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago for the Battle of Britain memorial flight. We left the fighters in Gatineau with a rental car and mapquest directions for the hotel in downtown Ottawa. Of course, we totally lost in the downtown area (mapquest sucks), when at a red light, realize we're behind Charley. Well, we figure, no problem we'll follow Charley to the hotel. Wrong. The driver, Rick Volker (Spit pilot, Porsche owner) couldn'd keep up. He lost us. We found the hotel and later that evening , caught up with Charley at the Officers Mess in Ottawa. Over a couple of pints, critiqueing the Crud game, I had a chance to sit and talk with Charley on all kinds of cool airplane stuff. He related the last year, he drove in excess of 90K kilometers all over southern Ontario. He said it kept him young. Of those who knew him, did you EVER see him not smiling? I've been in the warbird game for 20 years and like all of us, see the increasing attrition of our irreplaceaple veterans. This one hurts more that most. Canada (and all of us) has lost a national treasure.
Godspeed, Charley
Rob Gillman

[Ontario-Warbird]

Like Rod G said, you never seen Charlie without a smile on his face. Here is Charlie doing his thing at Geneseo 2005 all in blue. Every time I saw him their it was either a blue outfit or yellow.



Blue Skys Charlie.

Dave C

[Robbie Stuart]

So very sorry to hear this. Thoughts & prayers to Charlie Fox, his family & friends. God Bless those of that generation!
Robbie

[AIRIC]

This is really sad to hear. I have known Charley for many years and like Rob stated he always had a smile on his face and a good story to tell. My wife recently purchased a book about Charley and he autographed it for her. She has not even finished reading it yet and is very emotional about his passing. We last say him at Gatineau for the BoB Flight and I was always amazed he drove himself around to all the events the past few years. He had more energy then most of us. He will be missed around CHAA and the Southern Ontario airshow scene.

A good friend of ours took this photo of Charley with my wife and I.