Crash Kills Museum Director

The director of the Santa Monica Museum of Flying, Donald E. Madonna, was killed Thursday when an ex-military jet he was flying in crashed in a wooded area north of Shreveport, La. Madonna, a Thousand Oaks resident, was 53.

Madonna directed the museum for more than a year after retiring from 23 years of service with the U.S. Air Force. He retired as a colonel, a colleague said.

“He was an extremely civic-minded individual, and I would say gave very selflessly of himself in helping the museum forge ties with the community and ties with industry,” said Michael O’Leary, an editor of several aviation magazines who worked closely with Madonna.

The owner of the plane, Gary Thompson of Florida, also was killed. It is unclear who was flying the plane or why it crashed, O’Leary said.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Jude’s Church, 32032 W. Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, with burial Tuesday at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Madonna is survived by his wife, Harlene, two daughters and a son. His son, Greg, died in a plane crash last February.

Donations may be made to the Donald/Greg Madonna Memorial Fund, in care of the Museum of Flying.