It is with great sadness that I report that longtime CNAC Association president Bill Maher has gone to the reunion of CNAC pilots at Hogy Taw, high in the Himalayan Mountains…
He is not expected to return.
Bill passed away suddenly on August while walking near his farm. He was 91 years old.
Bill was a force of nature, and extremely committed to furthering the interests of the China National Aviation Corporation. Ever since I’ve been involved with CNAC, he’s been the Association’s driving force, and he was a staunch supporter of my writing efforts. Once every six months since 2004, I’d get a call from Bill. “When the hell is that damn book coming out?” he’d ask.
I’d hem and haw, and say that I was doing my best, and he’d tell me to “hurry up, Goddamn it. We all want to see that book, and we don’t have much time left.”
Well, I finally know the answer to his question (Feb 28, 2012), but I’m deeply saddened that I won’t be able to personally put a copy of China’s Wings in his hands.
It’s not feeling like much comfort right now, but Bill, I promise I’ll do my bit to ensure that history doesn’t forget the China National Aviation Corporation.
Here’s Bill’s page at cnac.org: Bill Maher
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