Found this on a Google search from the Jacksonville Times-Union. Del certainly sounds like he was a very interesting man and radio operator. I may even have a pic of the DC-3 that he piloted from my visit to the Air and Space Museum a few years ago.
POPWELL Del - W. Popwell, 88, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2005. He was born in Clanton, Alabama and lived most of his life in Jacksonville, Florida. He served in World War II in the Army Air Corps as a flight instructor of the Steerman Biplane in the States. While a copilot with Eastern Airlines, he copiloted the Eastern DC3 airplane that now hangs in the Air and Space Museum in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. He was one of the first managers of Herlong Airport on the Westside. He owned the Florida Realty Company where he was a licensed Realtor. After retiring from real estate he owned his own Charter Flight Company for many years. He was an avid ham radio operator and answered to K4NBN (NO BAD NEWS). Preceded in death by his twin brother, Bud Popwell and his wife, Virginia Doyle Popwell, he is survived by his two sons: Doyle Wade Popwell (Kay), and Lee Popwell (Elizabeth); five grandchildren: Jill Popwell, Crissy Popwell, Brooks Popwell, Lisa Popwell, and Ben Popwell; three nieces: Shiela Popwell, Pat Humphreys (J.D.) and Irene Lawver (Steve); and three great nieces and three great nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 27, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Community Church of Mandarin, 10938 Hood Road S., Jacksonville, FL 32257. In lieu of flowers the family request any memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, 1430 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207 or The Gideons, Beaches Camp, P.O. Box 330952, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com