John Thomas Peek

Peek, John Thomas

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94 Years Young Captain John Thomas Peek, of Solana Beach, Calif., passed away on September 21, 2007. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 1, 2007, at Maple Hill Cemetery. Family gatherings will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday and 10-11 a.m. Monday at the Maple Hill Funeral Home. Captain John Thomas Peek (J.T. to his family) was born on June 11, 1913, in the home of his family farm in Goree, Knox County, Texas. John enlisted in the Aviation Section of the USMC in 1933 and began flight school in 1936 in Pensacola. He was transferred to San Diego Naval Air Station in 1937 for three years of active duty, where he immediately qualified on the carrier and was eventually promoted to Captain. He flew many different aircraft, including Army Air Corps P-51 Mustangs, and once flew 11 different planes in one day. John qualified Charles Lindbergh in the Corsair. In 1940, John left the Marines to become a TWA pilot, flying the DC-2. During his career with TWA, he served an additional three years in the USMC during WWII participating in soldier and supply transport flights, mostly in the southwest Pacific Theater. He was awarded Good Conduct; American Defense Service, Presidential Unit Citation. He returned to TWA after WWII while still serving in the USMC Reserve until 1952, reaching the rank of Major. During the Vietnam War, he again served his country by transporting soldiers in and out of the country as a TWA pilot. He retired as a TWA International Captain after 33 years of service, completing his TWA career flying the "latest and largest" plane of the time - the 747 Jumbo Jet. He accumulated 25,000 hours and approximately 8 million miles of flying time. Survivors include a sister, Dimple Jetton, Spearman, Texas; a daughter, Vickie Peek, Solana Beach, Calif.; three sons, John T. "Jet" Peek, Jr., Houston, Texas, Randy Peek, K.C., Kan., Gary Peek, Solana Beach, Calif.; two grandsons, Ryan Peek, Logan Peek, and a great grandson, Troy Peek, all of K.C, Kan. (Arr.: Maple Hill Funeral Home, 913- 831-3345).
Published in the Kansas City Star on 9/29/2007.