… My Promise to Captain John…
With over seventy-seven years (nearly 30,000 hours) of flying time logged, Captain John would often say that he was most proud of his time doing Angel Flights! He had completed 462 of these volunteer missions helping those in need get too long-distance appointments, with the last one being just 5 days after his 98th Birthday!
I am so grateful for having John in my life as such a close friend and feel so very honored to have been his Co-pilot on 345 of those special missions, each one touching both our hearts in a very special way. It was John’s wish that I could continue doing Angel Flights with 49Bravo after his passing. This was a somewhat hard discussion because I just could not, (or more truthfully) did not want to ever imagine him not being here. I knew this was very important to him, and although I knew finances would be a big factor, I made him a promise… the promise went like this as I felt tears welling in my eyes… I said Captain John, I will do my very best to make it happen, and if it comes to be, I will continue doing so for as long as possible… and when the time comes that I no longer can, I will know it. This put a big smile on his face, and I felt deep within my heart that we both felt at ease with the subject and needed to talk about it no further. This conversation took place just two weeks prior to his passing, making me realize how important this was to him!
So now my promise to Captain John is underway, I have purchased 49Bravo from Mrs. Barbara (John’s wife) with her blessings. I have done all the paperwork that needs to be done, I have Insurance in place, and the last thing was to get the Virginia State Decal from Richmond which has arrived! So now 49Bravo is ready to take to the sky once more, eager to carry on John’s legacy just as I am. I have been a licensed pilot for twenty-four years, and a registered Angel Flight Pilot with an Instrument Rating (thanks to John) since 2016. The experience I have obtained from flying with Captain John for so long is priceless, he would often tell people that he was passing on all of his bad habits to me, all of which I am very grateful for! So, after 49Bravo’s yearly annual is completed later this month, she and I both will be good to go for accepting Angel Flight Missions!
I feel so honored in this endeavor to carry on Captain John’s Legacy, and even though he may not be with me physically on flights from now on, he will for sure be with me in my heart and my mind! To follow along with the promise I gave him, I will continue doing this for as long as I can. The biggest issue as time goes by will be the cost. Owning, maintaining, and operating an aircraft has considerable expenses. Fuel alone for an average Angel Flight of 5 hours will be around $300.00. Part of my plan for being able to continue John’s Legacy longer than I could on my own, was to create a way for folks to donate in John’s Honor. All donations would be applied directly to the cost of doing Angel Flights. Finances, for now, will be ok, but as in my promise… when the time comes that I need to stop, I will know it. Donations would help keep that time much further down the road!
Please feel free to share this information, and if a donation is something that you could do it would be very much appreciated!
CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATEThank you so much for your time…
Sincerly, Captain John’s friend and Co-Pilot, Nevin Showman
May His Legacy Live On!
I have known many WWII Veterans, but John was special, probably the sharpest I’ve known not just for his age but for any age. And one of the most thoughtful toward people. Technology came easier to him than most engineers I had known but even beyond that, he was an amazing person, a very warm person. He established a lot in the development of modern aviation. His WWII History is legend; 262 bombing raids and OSS Missions including Operation Greenup – getting Fred Meyer an others into Nazi occupied territory (the documentary The Real Inglorious Bastards)
Nevin was quite were blessed to have been his close friend. I remember being over Fred Myer’s house when I interviewed him years ago and Fred first told me all about John. They were like brothers.
I sincerely appreciate all the invites and interviews form John. Very special were John’s interviews and the time you guys came to Senaca Ridge Middle School in Sterling, VA. I was appreciative of being invited to the OSS event, as well as the birthday event. I would have made it to the John’s Birthday, but my mother’s birthday was the same weekend, first weekend in August. I loved every moment over John’s house; priceless! I am very grateful that I was treated as a friend from the beginning. John will always be irreplaceable.I have known many WWII vets that are passed away at a fast rate. Knowing so many, their passing knocks you over the head with reality.
I will send you a donation and will try to spread the request. It’ s truly impressive that you are carrying out John’s wishes. All the best with that. Let me know if I can assist further.
Nevin..amazing that you are continuing John’s Legacy with Angel Flight in Brovo49! I will support it and encourage others to do so as well.
Thank you so much Mark for the tribute to Captain John, and for the time and friendship that you shared with him… he was truly one of the most amazing men I have ever had the honor of knowing.
Hi Nevin.
My name is John Boyas and my dad George was part of John’s WWII crew as his radio operator. My dad always spoke glowingly of John and the entire crew and told us many stories of the missions they were involved in during the war. It was as if they had become family….and even though George passed away roughly 30 years ago, John and Barbara kept in touch with my mother (Helen) and my sister (Susan) and treated them as if they were a part of John’s “team” as well. I met John when he flew into Fairfield NJ to have lunch with my family including my young toddler. I remember John taking the time to show the plane to my very interested and excited son. The Bomb Group reunions were a staple in Helen and Susan’s lives for many years. Helen’s traveling days are over, but she is doing well and resides in a senior living community near Pittsburgh. Susan and Helen want to make a donation to allow for John’s work to continue and we will send one in the mail shortly. Good luck with your endeavor.
The Boyas Family
Thank you so much for connecting to the website. I remember your mom Helen, and sister Susan very well… I met them at several reunions with John and enjoyed their company immensely! Please tell them both I said hi! John spoke of your dad quite often through the years I spent flying with him, there was certainly a strong connection among the whole crew… what an amazing bunch of guys working together like a finely tuned instrument. You will get an email each time I post on the website which will be after each flight and when I add more things about John (of which I have a lot). I am also going to add a section in the menu about what goes on with 49Bravo, so that folks can see the process of maintaining an airplane. Tell your mom and Susan that their contribution will be greatly appreciated!