Operation Final Rest will now commence at Arlington are now scheduled for June 21 at 1100 hours from the Old Post
Chapel, Ft Meyer.
Please respond if you have any intention of attending.

Duty, honor, service.

Flying was everything for Dad. Dad was inspired to fly by Charles Lindbergh, who piloted the Spirit of St. Louis down the dirt runway of Roosevelt Field in New York on May 20, 1927. Many doubted that Lindbergh would successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean. Despite this, LuckyLindy landed safely in Paris less than 34 hours later, becoming the first pilot to solo a nonstop trans-Atlantic flight. Dad received a "Lindbergh doll" one Christmas, which solidified his life-long passion for aviation. I have the Lindbergh doll, which represents the inspiration to so many that changed public opinion on the value of air travel, and laid the foundation for the future development of aviation. My Dad was one of those who was inspired.

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots. This old pilot slipped the surly bonds of earth, and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings for the last time on December 6, 2019, and after a life-long career in aviation, received a CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unrestricted) clearance, ironically, one day before Pearl Harbor, the day that still lives in infamy, and with many of his fellow aviators, he has gone west.

Dad spent his whole life in aviation, helping to end WWII, providing essential reconnaissance in his beloved B-29 during the Korean conflict. He went on to join the Federal Aviation Administration, working to ensure flight safety in as an accident flight inspector and certifying the airworthiness of those piloting our domestic and foreign planes.

Dad's dedication to importance of aviation to the country and to individuals that flew impacted our family life. Dad was off on a normal 3-week trip with Seaboard whilst my Mom was pregnant with me. After a long night with the obstitrician in New York on what should have been my due date, I stubbornly waited 2 weeks to be born until Dad returned.

Our family life revolved around aviation. After active duty, Dad would fly on 3-week trips for Seaboard and then take off on his weekend home for ASAF reserve duty. Life often revolved around dropping off Dad at Idlewild (now JFK airport NY), and picking him up after a trip. Holidays were interrupted as Dad responded to take off on the Gooney Bird (DC-3) to shoot the Instrument Landing System (ILS) after an accident. Despite the interruptions in family life, we ultimately believed in Dad's commitment to protection of his country and aviation safety.

There is no doubt that Dad has gone West. We hope you will join us next year at Arlington as we salute Major Bicknese, aviation pioneer, defender of the United States and global flight safety.

We hope you will join in 2020 us as we salute Maj Bicknese, USAF Ret as he completes his final mission tat Arlington, where he will join his friend, bombardier Col Fred Siegel ,watching the flight line to Reagan National Airport.