Born: 07/05/1918
Inducted:
10/26/2002
Joseph
Milam Abernathy began his career as an airport engineer in his
native state of South Dakota in 1939. After working at several
airports in South Dakota and Montana he entered the Civil Engineer
Corps of the United States Navy in 1942 and he built air fields for
the Navy's island-hopping war from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. At the
end of the war he settled in Rhinelander, where he continued to
build airports for the Genisot Engineering Company and acquired his
pilot's certificate.
In
1962, Abernathy became Chief Airport Engineer for the Wisconsin
Division (later Bureau) of Aeronautics and continued to build
airports. By the time he retired in 1984, Abernathy had worked on at
least 70 airports in Wisconsin. The work of an engineer can be
easily overlooked, but by providing the basic infrastructure
necessary for a safe and efficient airport system, Joe Abernathy has
left an indelible mark on aviation in Wisconsin.
|
Seabee Logo, WWII
(Photo courtesy Joe Abernathy)
Joe exits Stinson Trimotor, Antigo WI
April 1983
(Photo courtesy Joe Abernathy)
Joe in the cockpit of a Cessna
Cardinal, 1985
(Photo courtesy Joe Abernathy)
|
