MTFCA Forum

My close friend and mentor Carl Megonigle is on his last trip with flight instructions in hand. I met him in 1993 at the Mtfci tour in Tacoma Washington when he arrived with his rowdy traveling companions of the Key West to Tacoma cross country tour. On the 2009 Ocean to Ocean 100th anniversary tour, he was my support truck driver, that was where he was in charge of the motor pool, and I mean in charge, logging mileage routes Everyday equipment inspections of my truck and trailer and which place had the best hotdogs, milkshakes, ice cream, and maple cream stick donuts for his morning snacks. I am going to miss him as he served and led an extraordinary life serving our country. He will be laid to rest at Washington Crossing Military Cemetary on April 23. I have attached his obituary.

https://www.lifecelebration.com/obituar ... d=42041937

Carl Earl Megonigle Obituary

Carl E. Megonigle, Commander U.S. Navy (Ret’d) passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania at the age of 90. Carl is the beloved husband of Mary Ann Beatty Megonigle for over 45 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his loving children, Carl Andrew Megonigle and Debra Ann Megonigle.

Carl was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on March 19, 1935, the son of Gaile W. and Delilah M. (Cameron) Megonigle.

Carl attended Admiral Farragut Academy in New Jersey and graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1957. Following graduation, he served in the Merchant Marine as 3rd Mate on the SS Junior (United Fruit Co.) for a year. He then became a Navy pilot and served for 26 years on active duty, including a tour in Vietnam where he flew H-1 “gun ships” in support of Patrol Boat River (PBR) Force. He trained Navy pilots to fly Army Huey helicopters, and flew 268 combat missions. As a Pilot, he had 4,500 flight hours in helicopters and 2,168 flight hours in fixed wing aircraft. As a rescue pilot, he saved several hundred people and was a full-fledged member of the US Navy’s “Fisher of Men” group. He had many commendations including a Bronze Star for Valor.

He was passionate about collecting, restoring and driving antique cars and trucks, and touring across America in them, including a trip from Key West to Washington State in a Model T Ford, which took five weeks. Carl was known as a “man of many hats” and his collection included hats from military ships, aircraft and antique car and truck clubs. He credited his health and longevity to a diet of hot dogs, ice cream, maple donuts and chocolate cake. He was a kind and loving husband father and friend. His life was well-lived. He will be greatly missed and honored by all he knew, and the many whose hearts he touched.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet Carl’s family on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 10:00 AM until his funeral service at 11:30 A.M. at the Swartz Givnish Funeral Home, 323 Washington Ave., Newtown, PA. His interment with military honors will follow at 1:00 P.M. at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Bucks County S.P.C.A.

Carl sounds like he lived a good life, and provided great memories for many. I would have loved to have met him. I would have been right at his side seeking those hotdogs and milkshakes! Sounds exactly like how I map out trips!
Condolences to his family & friends.
RIP

Linda and I had the privilege to attend several tours with Carl and Jeep Whitehouse. What a pair they were! Carl was a character with lots of Air Force stories. Jeep is much more reserved but a lot of fun in his own way. While we haven’t seen Carl in several years, we still got a Christmas card, with his new passion, pictures of his rail road inspection car. He toured with it for at least 10 years. And his Mac B truck was just the coolest car hauler ever.
He’ll be missed. Jeep is still hanging in there with some minor health issues that have slowed him down some but doing great at 94. He no longer tours with his T’s, but does most everything else and is active in his church.

I had the privilege of knowing Carl for the last 15 years through the old car hobby. He always had words of wisdom for my wife and I about life, marriage, and personal finance since we were a newly married 25 year old couple. One memorable moment together was when we were touring a naval plane and helicopter museum in eastern PA and he knew more about every plane in there than our tour guide. At one pont he looked at a helicopter and said "I flew that". I dismissively look at Carl. He rattled off the tail number, the tours he was on with it and years of service. I went over after to read the plaque and everything he said was true! I was astonished. He was unapologetically himself and I always appreciated that and will miss his wit and fun around the T hobby.