Louis R. Canepa
CANEPA, LOUIS R., Capt. USN Ret. "Bullet Bob" May 18, 1939 to July 25, 2007 Bob Canepa was born in Eureka, CA. He graduated from Chico State College in 1962. He entered the Navy, was commissioned in 1963 and received his Wings of Gold in June of 1964. Bob was trained as a fighter pilot at NAS Miramar and accumulated over 3,000 hours in the F-4 Phantom. He made three deployments during the Vietnam War and flew 235 combat missions. During a shore duty tour as an F-4 instructor pilot, he completed his Masters Degree from USC. Bob completed ten deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. He logged over 6500 flight hours and 1262 landings aboard sixteen different aircraft carriers. In 1988, he was the recipient of the Naval Aviation "Tailhooker of the Year" Award. Bob commanded VF-21, Air Wing 5 aboard the USS Midway, and Air Wing 11 aboard USS Enterprise. After 30 years of service to his country he retired from the Navy in 1993 having served as the Chief of Staff to ComNavAirPac. His military awards include two Legion of Merits, Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, and numerous campaign and service medals. Bob retired in 2005 as the GIS Manager for the County of San Diego. Bob was an avid tennis player and sailor. He enjoyed world travel, skiing, camping, and his beloved Padres. He was a devoted father and grandfather. He was a docent on the USS Midway Naval Aviation Museum and had served on the board of directors of the Tailhook Association. Bob is survived by his wife Patty, his mother Beryl, his sisters Sharon and Barbara, his brother Ken, his four children, Janel, Jeff, Julie, and Joanna, and five grandchildren. Services will be held on August 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at Our Mother of Confidence Church at 3131 Governor Drive, San Diego. Burial will be August 4th 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com. Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 8/1/2007.