Charles H. Daudt

Retired Captain Charles H. Daudt, 90, of River Rd, died Wednesday (December ll, 2002) at Middlesex Hospital after a sudden illness. He is survived by his wife Marie Daudt, son Charles H. Daudt Jr. and his wife Carol,and children, Bob, and Carrie of Ridgefield, and his daughter Diane Daudt and two grandchildren, Deidre and Calin of Old Saybrook. He was a graduate of Purdue University and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was a graduate of Harvard Business School and was a professor of aviation at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He joined American Airlines in l940 and retired in l972 with 32 years of service. He was based at JFK International Airport, NY. His final flight schedules were the nonstop flights to Honolulu, Fiji, and Sydney and Aukland. During his early years with American Airlines, he was a captain for the USAAF Air Transport Command and served in military status. He and the crews of "Project 7-A" pioneered an all weather airline via Labrador and Greenland over the North Atlantic and eventually around the world at a time when our nation's Air Force had no such system. He flew the transport known as the C-87 over the Hump from India to China in l943. During his career with American Airlines, he served on many committees for the airline industry for engineering and air safety and was an acceptance test pilot for the 707 airplane with American. He also worked on the design of the instrument panel for the Boeing 707 before it reached the flight line. He designed and developed the Flight Attitude System for commercial aircraft. He was a member of the I.O.C., the Wings Club in NYC, he also was a member of the Grey Eagles Assoc with American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Assoc. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American ATC Group, Hump Pilots Assoc, and was a member of the National Guard in the state of Indiana. He retained a lifelong love of sailing, cruising and racing, which began as a member of the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, L.I. NY and then on to many years as a member of the Essex Yacht Club, Essex, until his recent passing away. During his retirement years, his favorite sailboat was the "Flying Eagle" He set sail from England with his son and crew to Essex in l985. This was one of his fondest memories. A private service was held with his family in Essex on Dec l4. If desired, the family requests contributions in his memory to the Grey Eagle Foundation, American Airlines, l4600 Trinity Blvd, Suite 500, Ft Worth, TX 76155-2512, or the Essex Ambulance Assoc, PO Box 233, Ivoryton, CT 06442, or the Essex Meadows Employee Assoc. Fund Att Mr. Frank Chappell, 30 Bokum Rd, Essex CT 06426. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St. Centerbrook is in charge of arrangements.