Former Pennsylvania resident James William Klopp 91 passed away June 13 2006 at his home in New Smyrna Beach Florida. He will be buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery Myerstown Pennsylvania.

James was born on August 5 1914 in Fleetwood Pennsylvania to the late Harry J. Klopp and Helen L. Wahl Klopp. He received a BS degree in engineering from The Pennsylvania State College in 1935. Following Navy flight training at Pensacola Florida in 1936 he served in the Pacific Fleet during WWll as a cruiser based scout/observation type seaplane pilot. He was the first Rotary Wing ?Class Desk? officer 1941-1944 in the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics during the period when the Navy put forth its early efforts to develop helicopters for naval use. James was the Navy?s first active helicopter enthusiast and the first Navy pilot to fly a helicopter. He joined the staff of Commander Aircraft South Pacific in 1944 and in March 1945 he joined the Staff of Commander Naval Air Bases Okinawa where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. After 31 years of service James retired from active duty in 1966.

In addition to his military career James joined the Piasecki Aircraft Corporation where he held the position of Vice President Assistant to the President for Flight Test and Quality Assurance. He was a member of the American Helicopter Society the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences the Association of the United States Army and the US Naval Institute.

James married Virginia C. Bristow on October 26 1940. They moved to New Smyrna Beach from Broomall Pennsylvania in 1980 and were happily married for 46 years before she passed away in 1986. During his time in New Smyrna James was a member of the Council on Aging Meals on Wheels Program the Elks Club and the local ham radio club. He enjoyed playing the organ working in his yard playing golf archery carpentry sailing and flying.

James is survived by his son Richard and Marilu Klopp of Edgewater; two sisters Jennette Dobson of Rockledge Pennsylvania and Mary Ellen Keulen of Los Osos California and nephews and nieces living in Florida California and New Jersey.