Airlee Owens, age 68, passed away February 17th, 2010.

Airlee Owens, 68...was born February 18, 1941, five miles north of Middlesboro, Kentucky. He moved to Bandon, Oregon with his family at the age of 11. He died February 17, 2010, in Portland at the VA hospital. Airlee was a passionate patriot and loved the United States of America. He joined the United States Air Force on August 17, 1959. He was sent to Syracuse University in New York where he was trained as a Russian linguist. He served one tour of duty at a ground listening post in Karamursel, Turkey, just south of the Black Sea and served his second tour of duty at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. He has said that probably the best decision he ever made in his life, outside of becoming a Christian, was to have joined the Air Force. Airlee was a proud member of a group of reconnaissance flyers called the Prop Wash Gang. He was a life member of the Freedom Through Vigilance Association, made up of all former intelligence specialists in the Air Force. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans organization and a member of the American Legion. He also belonged to Mensa. Airlee was a fairly good photographer and he loved to write. Occasionally he put both talents to work and had been published in several magazines. He was a member of Pacific Community Church which he attended regularly for many years. He loved his church, the brothers and sisters therein, his country and his friends...mostly veterans. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Prop Wash Gang. PO Box 363, Bandon, OR 97411. //Source: Various e-mails from family and PWG members.//