JOHN DEAHL 1974 - 1981 PILOT DEN IN MEMORIAM John Diehl, first officer, was killed in April when his World War II vintage P-38 crashed on takeoff at Salt Lake City International Airport. He was preparing the restored aircraft for an air show in Utah. Diehl joined Frontier in 1974. -Frontier News, June 1981 I will go thru my list and give you and Ace the names and dates of those I have in case someone else is missed. Dale Glen 5-3-73 10-3-73, 10-12-42 1-18-78 (DHC6 PUB) John Deahl 7-1-74 12-9-74 12-21-44 4-9-81 (P38 crash) Denny Meyer 1-3-78 1-3-78 12-7-43 1-18-78 (DHC6 PUB) D.E. Klock 5-1-78 5-1-78 10-30-45 2-28-79 I am not sure when this list was constructed, but I would think in 1986. -Billy Walker (9/12/03) John was in many classes I taught and always a pleasure to have him. A very pleasant person. He owned a P-38 made famous in WW II by Richard Bong, leading Ace in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Unfortunately John was killed in his P-38 when he had an engine falure on take off. I've been told by many friends who flew P-38s during the war that losing an engine on takeoff was disastrous. -Frank Meyer (6/5/06) DEAHL, JOHN G ALPA# 0460816 DOB 12/21/44 DOH 01/01/74 Class DE 04/09/81 per FL ALPA Roster -Jake Lamkins (7/19/12) J G DEAHL DEN B737 FO Seniority # 494 between Rimmer and Beville whose seniority dates are 7/1/74 which is what Deahl's would be, per the 3/79 FL Pilot Domicile List. -Jake Lamkins (7/19/12) P-38 LIGHTNING/44-26961 Serial #: 44-26961 Construction #: 422-7965 Civil Registration: N74883 N38DH N6961 Model(s): P-38L-5-LO Lightning F-5G-6-LO Name: Scrap Iron IV Status: Destroyed Last info: 1993 History: Delivered to USAAF as 44-26961, 19??. - Transferred to RFC, Kingman, AZ, January 23, 1946. Delivered to Costa Rican AF as G.C.R.-01. - BOC: November 1948. - SOC: 1949. Delivered to Guatamalen AF as ????. - BOC: December 1949. - SOC: 1951. - Stored, never flown, La Aurora AB. Delivered to FA Hondurena as FAH504. - BOC: 1953. - SOC: 1960. Bob Bean Aircraft, Blythe, CA, March 31, 1960. - Registered as N74883. Ed Maloney/The Air Museum, Ontario, CA, 1965-1967. - Displayed as FAH504. G.E. Blumer/Air Maintenance Inc, Puyellup, WA, 1969-1972. - Raced as #59/Scrap Iron IV. Don Hull, Houston, TX, 1976. - Registered as N38DH. Friends Of Harbor Island Inc., San Diego, CA 1977. John G. Deahl, Denver, CO, July 26, 1977-1981. - Registered as N6961. - Destroyed in crash at Salt Lake City, Deahl killed, Apr. 9, 1981. Lester Friend, Palomar, CA, 1988. - Wreckage stored. Planes Of Fame, Chino, CA, 1993. - Wreckage stored. -http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38registry/p38-4426961.html (7/20/12) Found at Warbirds website: N6961 crashed on take-off from Salt Lake City when some rubberized fabric got lodged in right engine. Not sure if the plane flipped upside down before hitting the ground. -Chuck Gardner Did you ever know Norland's friend and Frontier colleague John Deahl? He owned a P-38 and a P-51 project. He was killed in the crash of the 38 in Salt Lake City in 1981. John Deahl's P-38 N6961 44-26961 did flip upside down (if I'm not mistaken) when it went in at Salt Lake City in 1981. -T J Tried to track John Deahl down one day, apparently after the P-38 crash and after he had departed this earth, wound up talking to one of his neighbors. The P-38 was one of the two used in an episode of 'Black Sheep Squadron'... as I recall the P-38 crashed in Utah at an airshow there.... most unfortunate as he would've been interesting to talk to. -Mark Morris -http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org (7/20/12) Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club: DEN pilot John Deahl's memorial webpage has been upgraded. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/John_Deahl.html Still need a photo of John and an obituary. Post your remembrances. -Jake Lamkins (7/21/12) John Deahl obituary Dear Sirs, I recently found your website regarding Frontier Airlines while searching for the late Dave Norland and his P-51D. I was in touch with Dave through phone back 20+ years ago, hoping to one day be able to see his beautiful maroon Mustang. This unfortunately never happened before the plane was sold. Another of your pilots I have doing some research into is the late John Deahl, who died in his P-38 fighter in Salt Lake City. I have a scanned copy of his obituary from a Denver library that were kind enough to supply me with it. Since you have a note on the remembrance page that you need a photo and obituary, please find it enclosed here. By the way, funny to see you even have a post I made on Warbird Information Exchange regarding Deahl/ Norland as part of the remembrance page. Anyway, cool to see photos of Dave Norland. I had only spoken with him on the phone a few times, never met in person. Nice also to see the old photo of him in the cockpit of his Race #76 "No Name Dame". Best regards, -T J Johansen, Oslo, NORWAY (10/9/14) Thank you for the obituary for John. That will be a nice addition to his memorial webpage. I had an enjoyable visit to Norway back in 1975. The highlight for me was a train ride from Bergen to Oslo. You have a gorgeous country! Regards, -Jake Lamkins (10/10/14) To Billy Walker Thanks again for your help, Billy. I just got an obituary for John Deahl from a guy in Norway! He had seen John's webpage and noted the need. Not Frontier, just a fan of the aircraft John flew to his death. -Jake Lamkins (10/10/14) Glad to be of even the tiniest help. Cool to hear that you had a great trip to Norway. You will have passed the city where I was born on that train ride, Honefoss is a hub on that journey not too far from Oslo. Take care, -T J Johansen, Oslo, NORWAY (10/11/17) John flew with me many times and even offered me the opportunity to fly his magnificent P-38. He was doing his run-up prior to take-off as I taxied around him for our Take0ff from DEN 8L. This was when he was heading to SLC and, sadly, his Flight West a day or so later. Damn! He was really a fine fellow. -Billy Walker (10/10/14) FLacebook friend request: John Deahl Hi John, I got your friend request. Are you the son of Frontier Airlines pilot John Deahl? -Jake Lamkins Hi Jake. Yes I am. I saw your webpage you did a few years back in my father. That was really great , thank you! I was 11 when he passed. -John Deahl That was a terrible tragedy. I have a huge backlog of items to add to the Frontier memorial webpages and included is an obituary for your dad that a P-38 fan in Norway sent me. I'll move that to the top of my queue and update his memorial webpage. Do you have anything you would like me to add to it. I need a good photo for it. -Jake Lamkins I have many things but we have moved to Spain and many of my momentos as in storage in Denver. I'll check with my sister Jamie and get back to you soon. -John Deahl Sounds like a plan. You can put Old Frontier Airlines in the Facebook search and come join 800+ members of the FLamily. There are sure to be folks there who knew your dad. Let your sister know too. -Jake Lamkins (11/7/17) Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club: FLight West: DEN pilot John Deahl's memorial webpage has been updated: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/John_Deahl.html I got an obituary finally but still need a better photo. Post your remembrances of John. -Jake Lamkins (11/7/17) It's been a long time, but I had the opportunity to have John as a Friend and room mate in Great Falls, flying the twin otter for Chief Pilot Captain Bob Banta. I, as well as all the Pilots in the GTF domicile, were greatful for John's part of our pilot group. He was always smiling and by all accounts an excellent Pilot. I think of John often, I know that God has given him his Golden Wings. Thank you Lord for allowing us to know John. -John Winter Frontier Airlines DEN, MKC, SLC, DFW, GTF (11/7/17) Before I was hired as a mechanic for FAL in January 1979 I met John Deahl. I did a little work for him on his P-38 and I remember he loved that airplane. At the time it was based at the Arapahoe County Airport (now Centennial Airport), my mother was a flight instructor based out of that airport and remembered the airplane. We met several times and he was really enjoyable to speak with and shared lots of the history of the airplane and his experiences flying it. At the time the superchargers were off of the airplane but it was otherwise complete. It is my recollection that this airplane had the lowest total time of any P-38 in the world (less than 500 hours??). I never did see it fly but do remember it in the TV show Ba Ba Blacksheep. There were two P-38's in the episode. You can tell John's plane by the short modern communication antenna just behind the canopy. I do remember the day after the crash that took John's life. Since I knew John it was an especially sad day. -Paul Ruberg (11/8/17) I found a few pictures of John and the kids. The professional pictures of John and kids I have not located yet. I need someone to move some heavy boxes to get to them but will send later. Many of these pictures show the love he had for his children. We went on many adventures and experienced fun times. We were married. We were together 6 years. Thank you for all you do. -Connie Larsen (11/12/17) You 2 were so cute together, remember well. We were so shocked when he was killed. It was bad for us, but you must of been destroyed. So sad. -Karen Davidsaver (11/12/17) Yes, I was destroyed. He was the love of my life. I have never loved again in my life like I loved him. I feel very blessed that I got to spend 6 years of my life with him. He was a very special human being -Connie Larsen (11/12/17) You two were such a sweet couple.. you'll always have the memories!!! -Merri Bryant (11/12/17) Oh these pics take me back. You two were so darling. Thanks for the memories -Sharon Trumble (11/12/17) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: John Deahl DEN pilot John Deahl's memorial webpage has been updated: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/John_Deahl.html Better photos received from his wife Connie. Post your remembrances of John. -Jake Lamkins (5/5/18) Years have passed now but I still remember my sorrow and disbelief when I heard John had his accident. John was an excellent pilot by all accounts and a gentleman to all he knew. I first met John when we were both first officers flying the Twin Otters out of the new Great Falls pilot base. We were room mates along with two other Frontier pilots, and we all enjoyed John's company, his forever smile and easygoing nature. John was such a pleasure to be around. He has been missed and continues to be to this day and forever. I know God has blessed him, and I was blessed to have called him my friend!! -John Winter (5/5/18) FLacebook (John) was my co/pilot during his last month on the Line. A damn good pilot and a good friend. -Phil Stallings (1/8/20) John Deahl Hi Phil, thank you so much for the note. I am touched to hear this! Jamie Deahl Klingner Phil, love hearing this as well! Stories about our dad are now few so any info is so appreciated! Lydia Lewis Your father was a great guy. We are glad to welcome you. John Winter John, your dad was one of my room mates in Great Falls. He was a great room mate and pilot, just an all around good guy. I think of him often and miss him as well (1/10/20)