Obituary: Fighter Pilot Legend Became “The Turk of Troy”
~by Stu Neffeler ‘56

Bob Minerich was a World War II fighter pilot who got his wings just as the War ended. He was transferred to the Air force Reserves and started college, but just a couple of years passed before he was called back on active duty in the Korean War. In Korea Bob flew the B-26, a propeller driven twin engine attack bomber, that was used mostly in support of ground troops.

Memory has Bob as tall, about 6’3”, with black hair, penetrating eyes, and most of all, a large bushy black mustache. Bob was very strong and you could tell that from just looking at his heavily muscled athletic physique.

In the 1952-3 school year Bob, at age 26, returned from his second tour of military duty to finish his college education at USC. He also decided to row.

The year 1953 was a breakout year for the ‘SC crews as they rowed to victory in several races against significant opposition. Bob was a big part of those victories. In workouts, Bob, rowing on the port side with his terrific strength, would turn the boat to starboard causing the coxswain to continually command starboard oarsmen for more effort. Then on the ride back to the campus, Bob would tell of his experiences like how he flew his 300 mph bomber to evade the attacks of the 600 mph Chinese jet fighter.

The 19 and 20 year old oarsmen that year, with little life experience, were much in awe of Bob. Because of his physical presence, his war exploits and the mustache we called him “The Turk”. One “Turk” story , a race against Cal, is worth repeating.

USC journeyed north in the spring of 1953 to race Cal in a dual meet. We used Cal’s shells but took our own oars, a set for each crew plus a couple of spares. Motivated by the chance to row against the legendary Ky Ebright’s crew, Turk Minerich put a big effort into our practice rows the day before the race. His power was such that he broke his oar and in quick order broke both the spares. Since no one else in any of the ‘SC boats had any breakage, it was Minerich not the equipment.

The next day Cal beat the SC crew which went down the Oakland Estuary course with 7 Cardinal and Gold oars and one blue and gold oar borrowed from Cal and handled by “The Turk”. That day the Trojan crew didn’t have enough oar breakers in the boat to win.

Jack Schumacher ‘54 recently tried to contact Bob Minerich sadly to find out that Bob had died earlier this year. Steering Committee members Jack, Bill Gobbell, Andy Westhem and myself all rowed with Bob. Interestingly, all rowed on the same port side and all of us have fond memories of “The Turk”.

Maybe the starboard side has less fond recollections.