Actor Cliff Robertson dies, played Buzz Aldrin

It is with a heavy heart that the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) reacts to news of 2006 enshrinee Cliff Robertson's passing. He died from natural causes on Friday, September 10, just a day after his 88th birthday. Cliff's passion for sharing his love of flying with everyone he met is well documented, and includes using his talent, time and treasure to aid his fellow man, sometimes a world away.

Cliff, a native of La Jolla, California, developed an early love for aviation from the age of five when he saw - as he puts it- "that little yellow airplane gamboling over my house doing aerobatics."

At the age of 14 Cliff would bicycle every day during the summer to a little airport where he would work all day long to clean airplanes and engines, and was never paid a nickel. But, every third or fourth day, the chief pilot would say to Cliff, a young lad of short stature, "Go get your cushion." Cliff would race out with his cushion to a little red Taylor cub, where he and the chief pilot would fly for fifteen minutes. Flying was his compensation and he always felt overpaid.

Just out of high school, Robertson sought a Jack London adventure. He shipped out of San Francisco on a tramp steamer the SS Admiral Cole. Just 100 miles off ILO ILO in the Philippines, the ship was bombed by the Japanese. Miraculously the ship escaped and made it to the Philippines, where he declined an offer to join a small Philippine-American Army unit. In New Zealand, Cliff wanted to take advantage of New Zealand's lenient eye requirements. With less than 20/20 vision Cliff was ineligible to fly in the States. He contacted the U.S. Counsel's office and volunteered for New Zealand's Air Force, but at the last minute the police returned him to the ship.

Back in the States Cliff attended Antioch College in Ohio. He attempted to join the Naval Air Corps; but was sent to maritime officers' school and thence to the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters of war.

When Robertson heard the Belgian Air Force was to surplus WWII era Spitfires, he obtained one. Asked if he ever flew his Spitfire, Robertson replied "I'll give you the same answer I gave my insurance adjustor - 'Of course I didn't fly it.' That's my answer and I'm sticking to it." Robertson owned his Spitfire for over 20 years, one of the many vintage aircraft the pilot and noted actor owned and may (or may not) have flown.

In 1969, Robertson helped organize an effort to fly food and medical supplies to war ravaged Biafra, Nigeria. When a famine hit Ethiopia in 1978, Robertson again organized relief flights of supplies to that country.

Robertson was a public and powerful advocate for general and military aviation and a highly respected and sought-after speaker at many aviation events. He gave more non-compensated speeches to groups on behalf of aviation than any other celebrity. In 1981, he received the L. P. Sharples Award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for his significant contributions to general aviation. He received the EAA's highest honor the "Freedom of Flight" award in 1987 and in 2003, Robertson was awarded the Veteran of the year award by the America Veteran's Association.

We were fortunate that Cliff's involvement with the Hall of Fame included blessing us with his presence, in Dayton and elsewhere, dozens of time over many decades. Today we share our look back at some of those memorable visits as the NAHF bids Godspeed to one of the most colorful and unforgettable true characters of aviation, and a man of true character.

It was a rare occasion when Cliff did not grace the podium of the annual enshrinement ceremony to conclude it with a dramatic reading of the poem "High Flight." Often he would precede this reading with an original poem relevant to the fraternity of his cherished fellow aviators. His many trips to the Birthplace of Aviation, typically flying from home in New York to Dayton in his own beloved Beech Baron, were mutually enjoyed by thousands over the years. It was ever obvious that the aviation community was one that Cliff adored and was proud to contribute his talents to.

For many years at Oshkosh, the EAA provided the NAHF exhibit space at which to promote our SkyReach Education Program, our Learning Center and enshrinees' legacies, and membership campaign. Cliff, who attended Oshkosh regularly and in 1992 served as the very first Honorary Chairman of the EAA's Young Eagle's initiative, always made a point to stop by the NAHF display, spending his valuable time meeting with our volunteers and booth visitors of all ages. Soon he would be posing for photos and signing autographs, always gracious and patient, all too often while enduring the 100-degree temperatures of the exhibit hall.

In December of 2005, Cliff happily assisted the Hall of Fame in leading a celebration of the DC-3's 70th anniversary at Santa Monica Airport with fellow enshrinees and friends, Bob Hoover and Buzz Aldrin. This celebration also of enshrinee Donald Douglas included a flyover led by "Duggy the DC-3," the bright yellow aircraft then completing its coast-to-coast SkyReach promotional tour for the NAHF. Cliff warmly embraced his Hall of Fame "role" as a dual-celebrity, of both the Hollywood and the aviation community. Deftly and charmingly he handled the media and spectators at this historic public event and others, truly an exemplary ambassador of the Hall of Fame.

Cliff was justifiably very proud of his nearly 100 major motion roles over the span of a long, respected acting career that included earning an Oscar for his 1968 role in "Charly." So we were additionally blessed to have his enthusiastic participation and formidable talent onstage at the creation of the annual Reel Stuff Film Festival of Aviation in 2008. Reel Stuff patrons were in awe as he shared behind-the-scenes remembrances of filming "633 Squadron," in which he starred as a RAF Mosquito squadron commander. In 2009 he returned to present "The Pilot," a 1980 movie about an airline captain in which he both directed and starred, and which featured the aerial cinematography of his close friend (and a 2010 enshrinee), Clay Lacy, who joined him onstage for the screening. Cliff then served as the Honorary Chairman of the 3rd Annual Reel Stuff in 2010, however was unable to attend at the last minute due to his courageous battle with the ongoing health issues that eventually took his life yesterday.

Cliff was a proud parent, pilot, poet and patriot - an alliteration that would not escape the self-effacing wit of the talented writer and thespian, but is no less fact. Of more significance to Cliff is that the National Aviation Hall of Fame will proudly continue to share his rich aviation legacy - and his passionate advocacy for flight - with many more generations still to come.

We have on countless occasions heartily expressed our gratitude to Cliff for his service to us and to aviation overall. Regrettably, the opportunity to thank him one last time has eluded us. He would no doubt humbly acknowledge that the Hall of Fame will remember Cliff Robertson fondly and with heartfelt appreciation, for his contributions, encouragement and generosity, but also for his loyal friendship.

We will miss you, but we will never forget you, Cliff Robertson. Blue skies and tailwinds forever, dear friend, as you now "put out your hand and touch the face of God".