Joe Baugher goes west

[Andy Marden]

I thought I would place on record the passing of Joe Baugher.
He died from cancer on 12 November at the age of 82.
Most military enthusiasts will be familiar with his serials website, dealing with USAF, USN, USCG aircraft, which was such a useful "first-stop" resource.

[quemerford]

Thanks for this Andy: what an amazing legacy. I often used it as a 'first stop' to get my bearings.

RIP Joe: you won't be forgotten.

[Hooligan2]

How very sad.

I usually refer to his site for info on US military aircraft that attract my attention, always answers the question or points me in the right direction. Looking at the front page he seems to have been a man with an enquiring mind, an eye for detail and considerably more patience and focus than me! Nice bloke to enjoy a beer with methinks.

Many years ago I had a book published by LAAS or Midland Counties Aviation or one of the other societies which contained much of the basic info on postwar USAF aircraft plus batch details for at least the WW2 USAAF types, if not further back. There was a USN book too, they seemed to be a similar format to Joe's presentation; any UK guys know, did he prepare the books?

[Vzlet]

I hesitated to open this thread because I suspected the worst.
Joe, I (and scores of other people) owe you many thanks for the unfathomable amount of work you unselfishly put into your serials site. May all your unknowns now be resolved!

[Ken]

RIP Joe. The warbird community owes you great thanks for the tremendous resource you shared with us.

Ken

[marine air]

Condolences to his family. His website has been an invaluable resource over the years. I've started so many aircraft searches with the FAA N-Number, It will have a serial number which is typically wrong. Then we find a real serial number on the aircraft somewhere. Then we take it to Joe's website and find out what and when the airplane was built, year and for whom. After the war, and pre-computers and pre-internet, people bought surplus airframes and just slapped a serial number on it to get it registered. Wildly inaccurate. Thanks Mr. Baugher for your great work.

[Noha307]

I didn't realize it until I went looking for an obituary today, but there's a page on his website with a short autobiography for anyone interested.

Before R. W. Walker of Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers passed away in 2016, he transferred his database to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and they used it to create the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource. It would be nice if something like that could happen in this case as well.

[lmritger]

Mr. Baugher's work should rightfully be considered foundational. His never-ending quest for information, and patient, consistent efforts in ensuring that information was kept current and presented in an easily accessible format is nothing short of inspirational to those of us who know how challenging it can be to chase down leads in archives.

He has my everlasting gratitude and appreciation for his work, and his family and friends have my deepest condolences.

Rest well Joe, and know that you genuinely made a difference.

Lynn

[Steve Birdsall]

Yes, an excellent resource and obviously a labour of love. RIP.

[JohnB]

He created an invaluable resource for everyone in our hobby.
I sent him updates on survivors when I could.
A lot of surviving Stearmans are not listed.

RIP.

[Craig59]

Ugh! Very sad! I was just referencing the site before I read this. Echoing all the sentiments already expressed, I hope his legacy lives on.

[Zac Yates]

Everyone's said what I was thinking, I can't really add much more than to share my own sadness at this news. His work is invaluable and he leaves a remarkable legacy.

[AG pilot]

"His work is invaluable and he leaves a remarkable legacy."

Hear, Hear!!

[Noha307]

I can't put it any better than one of my friends who, upon hearing the news, wrote: "A man whose contributions to aviation history can scarcely be measured."

[DaveG]

I regularly spend an hour or two just aimlessly browsing serial numbers and reading details about airframes, personnel, incidents, and accidents. It never ever felt like I was wasting my time or goofing off. Research and all, you know. His website was one of the first ones I ever bookmarked on a computer. Thanks for your selfless labor of love, Joe. RIP.