Robert Baranaskas killed in P-40 -Mastic Beach 5Apr09

[richkolasa]

My prayers and condolences to the Baranaskas family. I can think of a few words that describe Bob:
Real
Genuine
Caring
Warm
Enthusiastic
Genuine
Nice
Genuine...

You can see where I'm going.

I'm sure many of you in the west or midwest might not have had a chance to meet Bob at an airshow, but let me tell you, he was a fantastic person who happened to have the resources to own a few of these amazing birds.

I can't believe how generous he was with those aircraft, and he was genuinely honored to be able to do fly-overs of veterans' ceremonies and other events. His son Chris is just as superb a person. I'm so sorry for Chris and his family's loss.

We'll miss you Bob, Godspeed.

Rich

[Zachary]

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Godspeed...

Zack

[Nathan]

OMG that is the worst news I have heard in a long time. I actually met Bob. I cant beleive this happened wow. I am at a loss for words too.

[CH2Tdriver]

Bob and Chris are from Northport, the town I grew up in. My folks still live there in the house I grew up in, and it turns out (after talking to Chris at Geneseo) that Chris lives about a mile away from it. A regular occurance on a warm summer evening is an impromptu display of the P-51 and sometimes the P-40 as well, as they circle Chris' house after an airshow before heading back to Brookhaven. I've caught the display when at my parents house, and even when I'm not there, I'll get a call from my dad saying "Hey the guy from Northport was circling the house again!"

They are both gentlemen and they always took the time out to hang out with us at Geneseo in the Top Gun tent. Bob, thanks for bringing more warbirds back to Long Island, and most of all thank you for sharing them with us generously at so many shows. Tailwinds always...we'll miss you.

To Chris and his family....I don't know what to say.

Here is my video of the Baranaskas collection at their home field of HWV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbON4NStlVY

Peter Ball

[warbirdguy]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Baranaskas family.

[mrhenniger]

This is a real shame. Best wishes to the family.

Mike

[DaveG]

My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

from Thunder 2007

[Ztex]

Very Very sad news.

Our prayers go out to Mr. Baranaskas and the family.

[jet1]

terrible loss....

[JägerMarty]

Very, very sad

[Pat M]

Very sad news indeed. As Peter mentioned above, the sound of a Merlin or Allison on LI usually meant that Bob and Chris were flying. Many times on the weekends I'd jump from my beach blanket and run toward the water because I could hear them flying along the beach. Two years ago I remember washing the car in the driveway and seeing them buzz my house on their way back from Reading. I was out running today and thought I heard a warbird, stopped and looked around, but could not see it. My condolences to Chris and his family.

[Ryan Keough]

I can't believe this... my stomach dropped like a stone with this horrible news. Bob was one of the nicest warbird guys I remember from early on. I remember how wonderful he, Chris, Mike Schloss, and the guys from the American Airpower Museum were when we coordinated the Aviation Heritage Festival in Nashua, NH. I got to know Bob very well over that weekend and he was always a guy I looked forward to seeing at Geneseo each year.

His enthusiasm will be missed -- my prayers to his son Chris and his family and friends at this difficult time. God speed Bob.

Ryan

[Hal B]

Very sad news. Our thoughts are with his family and friends...

[spookythecat]

I am very sorry to hear this news. I've never met Bob but he sounds like a pretty great person. My condolences to his family and all you he knew as friends.

[V1VRV2]

A tragic loss. Bob was a fine aviator and a true gentleman. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to fly with him at Geneseo and Willow Run. He will be missed. My condolences to Chris and his family.
Rob Gillman