Title: Aviation Historian, Writer and Museum Consultant
Company: Smithsonian Institution
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Robert C. Mikesh, Aviation Historian, Writer and Museum Consultant at the Smithsonian Institution, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in aeronautics, history, military service and authorship.
Building model airplanes by 9 years old, Mr. Mikesh always held an affinity for aviation, and subsequently decided to join the United States Air Force. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1950, he then advanced through the ranks to major by 1963. After retiring from the military in 1973 after serving the nation for 23 fruitful years, he joined the Smithsonian Institution, where he served as the museum curator of the National Air and Space Museum and a senior curator of aeronautics until his full retirement in 1991. Post-retirement, Mr. Mikesh served as the owner and manager of R. Mikesh & Associates in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Currently, Mr. Mikesh is renowned in his field for his expertise in aviation history, drawing upon his past experiences in the Air Force and with the Smithsonian Institution. Since the early 1960s, he has been a prolific writer, authoring a plethora of books regarding World War I, World War II and Japanese aircrafts. The author of nearly 25 books, several of his books have been translated into Japanese. Additionally, Mr. Mikesh has contributed more than 140 articles to professional journals and other noteworthy publications. Some of his books have included “Restoring Museum Aircrafts” in 1997, “Martin B-57 Canberra: The Complete Record” in 1995 and “Broken Wings of the Samurai” in 1993. Additionally, he penned “Flying Dragons: The South Vietnamese Air Force” in 1988, “Moonlight Interceptor” in 1985, “Zero Fighter” in 1981 and “Kikka: Japan’s First Jet” in 1979. His first book was titled “Eighth Bombardment Squadron History,” published in 1964.
In the present day, Mr. Mikesh has been a member of the advisory board of the United States Air Force Museum since 1996, a member of the board of directors of the World War I Aero Publication since 1992 and a trustee of the Bristol Heritage Collection since 1997. He holds a private pilot license and completed coursework at Iowa State College in the mid-1940s.
Mr. Mikesh holds several decorations from the military, including a Decorated Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and an Air Medal with Thirteen Oak Leaf Clusters. Immensely proud of his family, he was married to his late wife, Ramona Louise Barton, for 52 years, and has two sons, Michael and Christopher. Notably, Michael and Christopher followed in their father’s footsteps and maintained involvement in the aviation industry for quite some time, and Ramona was also a pilot. Mr. Mikesh is also the loving grandfather of eight grandchildren.
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