[NJARC] Earl Korf, K2IC, early Radio Man, SK

[John Dilks - K2TQN]

To all,

Here is Earl's obit......

If you would like to read one of Earl's early adventures, about Bristol 
Bay, Alaska, 1924, I have it on my web page:
http://www.eht.com/oldradio/arrl/
Click on March 2003 - "Second Story -1924 Alaska, Bristol Bay - 1924"

Earl was very active on ham radio until the end, participating in many nets 
of the organizations he belonged to.

Sadly,
John Dilks K2TQN
---------------------------------------------

EARL WATKIN KORF, 99, of Lincroft, MIDDLETOWN
Published in the Asbury Park Press 11/25/03

EARL WATKIN KORF, 99, of Lincroft, MIDDLETOWN, died Sunday, Nov. 23, at 
home. Born in Oklahoma in 1904 before it became a state, it was called 
Indian Territory at the time. He made his home in Lincroft where he 
belonged to the Lincroft Presbyterian Church. He also resided in Long 
Branch for two years. He made his home in Oklahoma, Texas, California and 
Europe before moving to Lincroft in 1961. He joined Trans World Airlines 
(TWA) in 1930 and worked in communications, retiring after 40 years in 
aviation. He was supervisor of navigators on retirement. He was a Western 
Union telegrapher in Northern California and then started sailing the 
Pacific as a wireless operator. First sea trip was from San Francisco to 
Pago Pago, Samoa on a small barkentine sailing vessel. He was shipwrecked 
in the south seas, losing the vessel but no lives in 1923. Then for the 
next seven years he was on tankers to China and Japan and stayed three 
years in Alaska up and down on sailing ships with the Salmon Canning 
Industry. He had an extensive career in the U.S. Army Air Corp and during 
World War II he navigated U.S. Army Air Corps transport planes (Air Force) 
flying the Atlantic 250 times and Europe, Africa, India and China, as well. 
He carried famous military personnel such as Jimmy Doolittle when he 
returned to Washington from his 1942 Tokyo bombing raid, Generals 
Eisenhower and Clark to London, June, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt at 
the Casablanca Conference with Churchill and Stalin, and two trips to China 
with Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Post war, he continued flying for TWA, 
International Airlines and Seaboard World Airlines where he flew military 
charters to Vietnam. He ended his flying career in 1972 with over 800 ocean 
crossings. He was a former Boy Scout assistant scout master and troop 
representative and Little League coach/manager. He was a member and former 
deacon of the Lincroft Presbyterian Church. An amateur mountain climber, he 
climbed the Matterhorn on his 50th birthday and climbed the highest points 
in 35 states. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), 
Middletown Post 2179, an avid ham radio operator with call sign K2IC 
licensed in 1919. Other organizations he belonged to were: American Radio 
Relay League (ARRL), Antique Wireless Association (AWA), Garden State 
Amateur Radio Association (GSARA), International Association of Airline 
Hams (IAAH), Morse Telegraph Club (MTC), Old China Hands Radio Association 
(OCHN), Old Old Timers Club (OOTC), OX 5 Aviation Pioneers (OX5 Club), 
Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA), Society of Wireless Pioneers 
(SOWP), Veteran Wireless Operators Association (VWOA), and Retired 
Professional Navigators (RPN).

He was predeceased by his parents, Samuel John Korf and Mary Rachel Davis 
Korf; a brother, Roy William Korf; and a sister, Nellie Mae Korf. Surviving 
are his wife of 50 years, Suzanne Michel Nacouz Korf; his sons, Gregory 
Davis Korf of Lincroft, and Richard Earl Korf of Los Angeles, Calif.; a 
sister, Mildred Steele of Fair Oaks, Calif.; a step-grandson, Jonathan 
Haile; a daughter-in-law, Victoria Cortessis of Los Angeles; and a nephew, 
Roger Steele of Fair Oaks, Calif.

There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday in his memory at the 
Lincroft Presbyterian Church, Lincroft. Cremation will be private. In lieu 
of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to a charity of 
your choice. John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, is in charge of arrangements.

from the Asbury Park Press
Published on November 25, 2003