It is my sad duty to report that 2ndLt Robert M. Lurie, USMC (Ret.) made his
last takeoff on 20 September 2009. He is survived by his beloved Sachiko
and son David. His other son, Robert Jr. was killed in action in
Vietnam in 1968. Funeral services will be held
at the MCAS Cherry Point Chapel in mid October. We will pass
more detailed information when it becomes available.

Bob received his Wings of Gold while serving as a Master Technical Sergeant
in the Marine Corps during WWII. He flew F-4U Corsairs in several sea-based
squadrons, accumulating 87 landings on straight deck carriers. Bob was
commissioned an officer, but then voluntarily reverted back to Master
Sergeant, Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP) in order to continue flying.

He was selected by Marion Carl to become a pioneer jet pilot in the first
Marine Corps jet squadron, VMF-122, flying the FH-1 Phantom, the F2H
Banshee, and being included in the Marine jet aerobatic team. He deployed
to Korea with the Marines first jet combat squadron, VMF-311, and
accumulated 116 missions in the F9F-2. At the end of the Korean War, Bob
was assigned as a VIP aircraft commander to fly various dignitaries,
administration officials, Ambassadors and staffs worldwide. He visited 58
world capitals, countries, and continents which included Africa, Alaska ,
Argentina , Asia, Australia , Borneo, Europe, Greenland , Iceland and other
polar regions, and Sumatra . Along with Col. Luther S. (Sad Sam) Moore , he
flew the first U.S. Marine Corps airplane over the North Pole while training
navigators in polar grid navigation while operating from Bodo , Norway over
the geographic pole to Thule, Greenland, and thence from Thule over the
magnetic pole to Alaska .

Returning to combat for the third time, Bob flew 2,100 hours during 25
consecutive months in a combat zone with MAG-12 at Chu Lai, MAG-36, VMO-6 at
Ky Ha, and MAG-16. In VMO-2, he flew low altitude night flare missions in
the R4D-8 and the UH1E gunship. Medevac missions in support of the ground
forces were also in his bag of tricks. He also had the rare opportunity
to fly with his son, 1st Lt. Robert M. Lurie as a father-son combat team in
VMO-2.

Post Vietnam, Bob was assigned as a staff pilot for numerous Flag and
General Officers who were transported in R5D’s, HU-16’s, and in one of the
Marine Corps’ three Convairs. He was also the CMC VIP pilot for HQMC.

After flying over 17,600 hours in 30 different aircraft types from open
cockpit bi-planes to sophisticated jets, Bob retired in April 1973 as the
last Sergeant to fly as a designated Marine Corps aircraft commander. After
retirement from the Marine Corps, he flew an additional 10,850 jet hours as
the Chief Pilot, Vice President, and Director of Flight Operations of a
multinational corporation.

Bob Lurie hung up his helmet, scarf and goggles, and kicked off his flight
boots in 1996 with 28,582 flight hours. having received the Silver Star,
the Distinguished Flying Cross, five individual Air Medals and the numeral
35, the Purple Heart, a Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V”, an Army
Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry - all for aerial
combat.

We have lost another three-war hero and a unique aviator. He will be
missed.

Sadly
Harry Blot - Pilot