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McElhiney

Allan McElhiney

McElhiney

Allan McElhiney

Allan McElhiney Obituary

Alland McElhiney, who founded the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum and started the Flight 19 ceremony about three decades ago, died Sunday, his 89th birthday.

Published by Sun-Sentinel from Nov. 9 to Nov. 12, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Allan McElhiney

46 Entries

David Benoist

November 30, 2014

Thank you Allan for all you have done.I would like to have done that while you were still here. I remember Flight No.19well.I was in the crew that spent two weeks searching for the missing planes. God Bless Allan for his work.

Tatiana

November 24, 2014

A very inspiring person & friend.

Marva Taitt

November 16, 2014

Mr Mac was very instrumental in helping to form my two sons futures who were cadets in the Naval Cadet Corp and the FLHS NJROTC. We were highly recommended by him as a family when one of them being investigated for submarine security clearance. They are career navy veterans. Thank you Mr Mac for following their careers.
May God bless your soul and may you rest in peace.

Amy Chmelecki

November 16, 2014

Thank you for keeping this story alive. Goerge Paonessa was my Great Uncle. His brother, my Grandfather, was a no show on his first date with my Grandma because it was the night he found out his brother went missing. When my Grandparents finally got together they fell in love, wed and named their first son after Goerge.

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Gail Blankenship

November 15, 2014

Alan, (Pops)
You were such an inspiration to all who crossed your path. Thank you for saving and sharing the museum with others. You will always be in our hearts. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. We will miss you dearly! Thank you for allowing me to call you "Pops". You were like a father to me. I think of you each time I play your records! You have a great family. I pray they can have peace and comfort in knowing you touched many lives with your sweet spirit and kindness. Gail

Joan Pietrucha

November 15, 2014

Thank you for keeping the memory of Flight 19 alive. Thank you for allowing me to be part of one of the ceremonies when I made Uncle Howell come alive instead of being just a name. I will miss seeing you at the naval station. I was fortunate to have known you. God bless you.

Barbara Makris

November 15, 2014

so dear a man...met him with my family during the LeyteGulf commissioning here in Port Everglades in 1987...he was flying over head taking his wonderful photos of everything. Now perhaps he's meeting the flight #19 crew. "Red tails in the sunset..." Bravo Zulu Al.

Jon Myhre

November 14, 2014

Alan, you were a special guy, and I'm very proud you were my friend. Thanks for all you did to preserve the memory of the veterans who served at NAS Ft. Lauderdale. We miss you, Sir. Godspeed.

Gerry Witoshynsky

November 13, 2014

The Pembroke Pines Historical Museum extends sincere sympathy on the passing of Allan McElhiney, founder of the Naval Air Station Ft. Lauderdale Historical Museum. Gerry Witoshynsky, Pembroke Pines City Historian and Museum Director, and Ellen McNamara, Assistant Director, have had contacts with the NASFtLHM for many years and appreciated the important work Al and his friends did to preserve Broward County military history. We send condolances to the McElhiney family and all Al's friends and supporters at the museum.

Unveiling a sign honoring Allan at the Museum: Ray Rivera, Edwin Torres, Chuck Richter and John Casey

November 13, 2014

From a Sun-sentinel image. Allan by the old Bachelors Officers Barracks at NASFL

November 13, 2014

Allan by Bob Jenny's Aviation Mural

November 13, 2014

Allan in 1943

November 13, 2014

The 3 Allans: Allan McElhiney with grandson Allan the III and great-grandson Allan the IV.

November 13, 2014

Deborah Lausier

November 12, 2014

Mr. McElhiney and my father, Hank Petri, were dear friends and shared a love and respect for our nation and those that risk their lives so that we may live in freedom. I lost my dad two years ago at the age of 91 and Mr. McElhiney was there to pay his respects. I hope that they've met up again in heaven! My deepest sympathy to Mr. McElhiney's family in the loss of such a fine man.

November 12, 2014

My condolences to the McElhiney family. May Allen now know the real story behind Flight 19. Thank you for keeping the memory of these men alive.
Barbara Paonessa

Irene Paonessa

November 12, 2014

Thank you Allan for keeping the story of my Uncle George and other patriots of flight nineteen 19 alive. Rest in Peace

Angie Sherlock

November 12, 2014

So saddened to hear of Allan's passing. He was such a fine man, committed to our Country and preserving our history, so that the dedication demostrated by the fine men and women who served, will always be rememebered for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers go out to Allan's family and all his friends.

Roy Liddicott

November 12, 2014

Allan you have fought the fight and lived the life of a true hero. May God's Speed forever shine upon you and your family.

November 12, 2014

May Allan rest in the peace of the Lord. A Gentle Man. Frank & Phyllis Loconto

David Paonessa

November 11, 2014

My mother & myself had the pleasure of sitting with him at the 60th anniversary of Flight 19 & the loss of my Uncle George Paonessa. He was a very nice man & him & my 89 year old mother shared some wonderful stories. My condolences to his family & I hope the tireless work he did for the museum is kept up!

Charles Schaus

November 11, 2014

His npassing is a loss of a good friend and a remarkable man in founding a military museum for the Public Good.My condolences to his family.

Jan Saxton

November 11, 2014

I'm so very sorry to hear of Allan's passing. He was a gem of a person and although he was very active in the Naval Air Station Museum, he was the very best at hanging wallpaper. He and Steve papered my home as well as my office and there was just no one better. My heartfelt condolences to the whole McIlheny family.

Ron Lowther

November 11, 2014

Allan left a legacy, and a great contribution to the men and women of the military and the Navy. He gave me, and others the opportunity to share in his dream and to give to our community a piece of history. He was always happy to see me and interested in what I do. I am grateful that I was able take the excitement upon his return from the Honor Flight. Just before his leaving the airport he said to me "I can't believe all the attention I got from being on this trip. This has never happened to me." I told Allan, he more than deserved this moment in time for who he is. This was a culmination of his life and contribution to American history.

Eventually President George H.W Bush visited with McElhiney and signed Bob Jenny's Mural on exhibit at the Museum.

Dick Boyce

November 11, 2014

A Sea Story Re: Brother Al.
By Dick Boyce

"I was Officer-in-Charge at (former Naval Air Station) Ft Lauderdale Base from Sept 1988 until 19 July 1991. Al and I hit it off at our initial introduction and remained close throughout my tour.

My new base was noticeably the biggest eyesore in the vicinity of the airport. The buildings were in disrepair with peeling paint and suffering from no maintenance program and no money to correct the problem. I felt more like a slum lord than a naval officer. My tightfisted seniors offered advice, but no funds.

Allan McElhiney asked me to provide space for him to start his museum. He discussed his plans to recreate a WWII flight student's bunk room as well as collect plaques from all ships visiting Ft Lauderdale. His long range plan included having a mural painted on a wall with President GHW Bush's plane included. I agreed to all of it with one condition... Al had to tell me that President Bush was coming for the dedication of the mural. Tongue in cheek, Al told me of his plan to have the President on site.

Over the next few weeks I signed a lot of bogus letters to a lot of ships asking for plaques for a museum that didn't exist, to be seen by a president that wasn't going to visit. I also officially notified my seniors that President Bush was going to participate in our ceremony. Paint and maintenance crews were flown into from Dahlgren, Virginia to "beautify" the facility. I provided weekly updates to seniors about the potential VIP visit and developed a formal program for the ceremony. I also helped Al unwrap many of the plaques he received and helped him write Thank-you notes.

Just prior to the big event, I passed the word up my chain of command that Jeb Bush would be standing in for his father. The list of attendees dropped significantly.

What a happy ending! In the end my facilities looked new, Al had lots of souvenirs from the fleet and neither of us spent a penny.

Al was my kind of sailor. Our philosophies were similar. If it's good for the Navy, just do it.

One senior eventually discovered the scam. He complimented me for "my ability to interact with the Navy League and civilian community in promoting a positive image of the Navy". In private he said Al and I were modern day Frank and Jesse James."

Dick Boyce

Allan with his Freedom Award

November 11, 2014

Claudia and Kenneth Doyle

November 11, 2014

I'm so sorry to hear of Allan Mcelhiney's passing. My husband and I send our heartfelt prayers at this difficult time. His memory and lifes contributions, which has benefited many, will forever live on.