James McNairn Mitton

The world became a little brighter when James was born on August 25, 1929, in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, to Margaret and Henry Mitton. James attended Moncton High School and later worked for the Trans-Canada Airlines as an airplane mechanic, which spurred his lifelong interest in flying. He was an experienced and enthusiastic aviator who learned to fly before he could drive.

James moved to Miami and was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1952 into the Band Training Unit before proudly serving in Korea as a crew chief and sergeant in the 8th Army Flight Division. During his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the Bronze Service Star, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. After, he was honorably discharged from the Army, he obtained his U.S. citizenship in 1954. He worked in aviation on the Defense Early Warning System in the Artic Circle. He was a member of American Legion Post #344 on Merritt Island.

As a private citizen, James moved to Merritt Island in 1956 and began working for Lockheed aerospace corporation in 1958 as a missile and systems testing inspector on the Trident and Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missiles out of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. He served as a steward for his company union before retiring from Lockheed in 1991.

In the early ‘60s, James decided to start his own aerial advertising business, Aero Ad. The budding Ron Jon Surf Shop was one of the first businesses to see the benefits of Aero Ad’s aerial advertising and used James to fly its first banner. The advertising was so successful that the surf shop sold T-shirts with Aero Ad’s plane pulling its banner and painted a wall mural inside the store of the same.

After the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion launched by President John F. Kennedy on Cuba in 1961, James built one of the first fallout shelters on Merritt Island behind his home from government specifications for nuclear war preparedness. It took him three months to finish the job, which he completed just before the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Later in life, he said nothing would have kept him from going to great lengths to keep his family safe from harm. The shelter is still standing, a testament to the strength of his love for life.

James served on the board of directors of the Brevard County Airport Authority, now Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority, for several years. As a pilot and flying enthusiast, he owned numerous aircraft during his lifetime including a warbird Cessna L-19 Birddog. He flew many airshows out of Ti-Co airport and was a member of Valiant Air Command. He also was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 734 of Merritt Island.

Post retirement, James obtained his commercial drivers license and hauled boats throughout the U.S. for Destination Bound Marine Transport on Merritt Island. He also mastered Morse Code and earned his amateur ham radio license from the FCC. He also was a member of the Space Coast Highlanders, a bagpipe and drum band, as a drummer.

James is survived by his daughters Jennifer Mitton Hellweg and her husband Steve Hellweg of Mims, Sara Key and Diana Fasanella, both of Merritt Island; two grandchildren Amy Pastore Colletti and her husband Robert Colletti of Palm Bay, Dr. Dominic James Pastore and his wife Dr. Jackie Pastore of Rockledge; four great-grandchildren; and his companion Marie Burgio of Merritt Island.

James was preceded in death by his wife Harriet Mitton of Merritt Island, his brother Henry Mitton and his parents Margaret and Henry Mitton, Sr., all of Miami; his granddaughter Selena J. Petross of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and grandson Justin Hamilton of Merritt Island.

James will be interred at Florida Memorial Gardens on U.S. 1 in Rockledge next to his wife, Harriet. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St Francis Reflections Lifestage Care in Titusville or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.