In Memoriam

John was my son, he remains my hero Thank you for the Memoriam, it really helps. I thank you for your support and keeping my son on the active roster.

Sincerely, Harry E. Barelka

I sit behind your parents in church every Sunday morning. You were so blessed to have these loving, kind, funny parents! They had a special, awesome cross made in memory of you, that is on the alter forever, and it is a real tribute to you. We will all meet together at God's big banquet table someday. I look forward to meeting you, John.

Jane Shearde

Thank you Jane Shearde and webmaster you are like fresh air. In time we'll drink wine and break bread at God's table.

Joann and Harry, In November of 1993 our family was living in the church parsonage on the property of the Avon Lake United Church of Christ in Avon Lake, Ohio. On the day of the funeral service there was a fly-by. It was low, fast and contained multiple passes. It is burned into my memory and I will always think of the Barelka family when I hear the roar of a jet fighter. Some day you will see your sons again and it will be a wonderful re-union. It is always pleasant to be around you two. Sincerely, Wayne Eastman

I remember working with him as a pilot and maintenance. I have know few pilots who were truly liked by the maintainers but he was one of the select. Great to have known him

We were in the same Weapons School class and were both from the same base...Spandahlem. I was in the A-10 class and of course he was in the F-16 class. We became friends. We shared more than a few beers at the club at Spang, celebrating our selection for WIC and more than a few at the club at Nellisl comparing notes on the Viper course versus the Hawg course. I will never forget the day he died. I had just returned to from a week-long deployment to FL to shoot AIM-9s at drones. It was my first day back at Nellis. I was walking down the hallway at the Weapons School and saw John in one of the briefing rooms busily preparing for a briefing on what turned out to be the fatal flight. I thought of going in and saying hi, but he looked really busy and I decided to catch up with him later. A couple of hours later he was gone. I really wish that I had poked my head in the door and said "hey Mighty Mouse...fly safe. Dang...was that really 25 years ago.

Thank you Duff and Tim. Your kind words mean a lot to me and John's family.

John was my roommate in F-4 RTU. Our class had just started and we were in the Academics portion when there was a fatal accident in the class ahead of us. During a low-altitude jettison pass for a hung BDU-33 (25-pound practice bomb), the pilot was not aware that while he was level, the terrain was slowly rising. The aircraft skipped off the ground and one of the stabilators broke off, inducing an uncommanded roll. A dual-sequenced ejection was initiated; the student in the rear cockpit survived but the IP in the front cockpit ejected into the ground. Tragically, the IP was a highly-decorated Vietnam Veteran with hundreds of combat missions.

A few days later, the wreckage of the aircraft was brought back to the base and was laying on its side on the back of a flatbed truck in front of the operations building. The cockpits were gone as were the outer wing panels but you could tell it was an F-4. The wreckage was burned and blackened and much of innards (hydraulic lines and electrical wires) were visible. From a pilot's perspective, it was like seeing the inside of human body. John and I - who hadn't yet logged a single hour in the Phantom - stood there in awe. We were so excited to finally be flying fighters and the sight of the wreckage brought us into the reality of the risks that were involved in flying at high speed and low altitude. Eight years later, John was gone.

I have thought about him many times over the past 30 years. He was a great husband and father, a great pilot, and a good friend.