LLoyd Harry Aronson, LtCol USAF(Ret)

[BLUEHAWK]

ARONSON LT. COL. LLOYD HARRY ARONSON U.S. AIR FORCE (Ret.)

On October 26, 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd H. Aronson took his final flight into the Wild Blue Yonder, departing from Reston Hospital Center, Virginia. A Falls Church resident for the past 45 years, he was born in Boston, MA on February 14, 1919 to William and Ruth Aronson and grew up in Norwalk, CT. He graduated from Parks Air College in St. Louis, MO and joined the Army Air Corp in 1941, which became the U.S. Air Force six years later. As a pilot, Col Aronson had an illustrious career that began in Asia, ferrying supplies in the China-Burma-India Theater. He performed as personal pilot to General Claire Chennault of the "Flying Tigers" fame.

One of his exploits while flying the C-B-I was chronicled in (then) Lt Col Robert L. Scott's book, "God is My Co-Pilot." He later flew the Berlin Airlift, and it was during this period in October of 1948 that he met and married in Frankfurt, Germany. Shortly afterward, he also participated in the Korean Airlift. Among his many awards and accomplishments, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Retired from the Air Force in June 1961, Col Aronson pursued a second career as an Aerospace Education Specialist for NASA, where he spent the following 22 years.

He was an accomplished musician, having played both saxophone and clarinet in a dance band in his college years; an avid photographer; and a casual golfer. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Chris Aronson (nee Lea); one son, Laurence H. (Larry) Aronson; daughter-in-law Kathleen Aronson; three grandchildren: Steven L., Lucas H., and Laura E. Aronson; a sister, Evelyn; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Col Aronson will be held at Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors on January 26, 2011 at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 6, 2010 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Everly Funeral Home located at 6161 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Homeless Animals, P.O. Box 2575, Merrifield, VA 22116-2575 or the charity of your choice.


Published in The Washington Post on November 2, 2010