John Ogonowski
Encyclopedia
John A. Ogonowski was an American pilot
and an agricultural activist. A resident of Dracut, Massachusetts
, Ogonowski was a leading advocate
on behalf of farming in Massachusetts, particularly in aiding immigrant farmers from Cambodia
, whom he assisted as part of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. He was murdered by terrorists while piloting American Airlines Flight 11
, which was subsequently hijacked and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the 9/11 attacks
.
, Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from Lowell Technological Institute
in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree in Nuclear Engineering
. He was a pilot in the U. S. Air Force during the Vietnam War
, flying C-141 transport aircraft
. From 1978 to the end of his life, Ogonowski flew airplanes for American Airlines
.
. Following his murder
, his airplane was crashed into the World Trade Center
. It is believed that he was stabbed or his throat was slit in order for the hijacker pilot Mohamed Atta
to take control of the plane and crash it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Before dying, he managed to engage the aircraft's radio system to allow air traffic control to listen to the terrorists' conversations in the aircraft's cabin. His body was never found.
in 2007. His nephew, Cole Ogonowski
, joined the Boy Scouts
and is currently a life scout.
A remote controlled model aircraft flying field in nearby Tewksbury, Massachusetts
, has been dedicated to Captain Ogonowski. An alumnus of the Lowell Technological Institute
, now the University of Massachusetts Lowell
, Captain Ogonowski was posthumously presented an honorary doctorate at the 2003 commencement ceremony at Tsongas Arena
. He was also a member of the Pi Lambda Phi
fraternity.
The USAID Farmer to Farmer program was renamed the "John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter FTF Program" as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Ogonowski is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-74 adjacent to the name of Kathleen A Nicosia a friend and flight attendant also killed on board American Airlines Flight 11
that day.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and an agricultural activist. A resident of Dracut, Massachusetts
Dracut, Massachusetts
Dracut is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 29,457. Dracut is primarily a suburban community, belonging to Greater Lowell and bordering southern New Hampshire...
, Ogonowski was a leading advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
on behalf of farming in Massachusetts, particularly in aiding immigrant farmers from Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, whom he assisted as part of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. He was murdered by terrorists while piloting American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
, which was subsequently hijacked and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the 9/11 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Biography
Ogonowski went to secondary school at Keith AcademyLowell Catholic High School
Lowell Catholic High School is a private, not-for-profit, college preparatory school in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and is a ....
, Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from Lowell Technological Institute
Lowell Technological Institute
The Lowell Technological Institute was a public college located in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1895 as the Lowell Textile School.-Beginnings:...
in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree in Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
. He was a pilot in the U. S. Air Force during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, flying C-141 transport aircraft
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
. From 1978 to the end of his life, Ogonowski flew airplanes for American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
September 11 attacks
He was killed on September 11, 2001, while at the controls during the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
. Following his murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, his airplane was crashed into the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. It is believed that he was stabbed or his throat was slit in order for the hijacker pilot Mohamed Atta
Mohamed Atta
Mohamed Mohamed el-Amir Awad el-Sayed Atta was one of the masterminds and the ringleader of the September 11 attacks who served as the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, crashing the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the coordinated attacks.Born in 1968...
to take control of the plane and crash it into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Before dying, he managed to engage the aircraft's radio system to allow air traffic control to listen to the terrorists' conversations in the aircraft's cabin. His body was never found.
Legacy
Ogonowski was survived by his wife Margaret and daughters Laura, Caroline, and Mary Katherine. His younger brother, Jim Ogonowski, who is also an agricultural activist, made an unsuccessful run for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2007. His nephew, Cole Ogonowski
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, joined the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts
A Boy Scout is a member of a Scouting organization. There are thousands of national Scouting organizations or federations; these are grouped into six international Scouting associations with some non-aligned organizations....
and is currently a life scout.
A remote controlled model aircraft flying field in nearby Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Tewksbury, Massachusetts
Tewksbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,961 at the 2010 census.- History :Tewksbury was first settled in 1637 and was officially incorporated in 1734 from Billerica. Like Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, it is named after the town of Tewkesbury,...
, has been dedicated to Captain Ogonowski. An alumnus of the Lowell Technological Institute
Lowell Technological Institute
The Lowell Technological Institute was a public college located in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1895 as the Lowell Textile School.-Beginnings:...
, now the University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
, Captain Ogonowski was posthumously presented an honorary doctorate at the 2003 commencement ceremony at Tsongas Arena
Tsongas Arena
Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell is a multi-purpose facility, on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Arena was opened and dedicated to the memory of prominent local and national politician Paul Tsongas on January 27, 1998...
. He was also a member of the Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
fraternity.
The USAID Farmer to Farmer program was renamed the "John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter FTF Program" as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Ogonowski is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-74 adjacent to the name of Kathleen A Nicosia a friend and flight attendant also killed on board American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11
American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
that day.
External links
- Captain John Ogonowski at Legacy.com