James Martin Needham, Jr.

January 29, 1941 - February 7, 2024

James Martin Needham, Jr., of Wilmington, NC, died on February 7, 2024 after a brief hospitalization at Novant Health Hospital. He was 83 years old. Jim was born in New York, NY, on January 29, 1941, and grew up in Great Neck, NY. He graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy in Toms River, NJ, and went on to earn his B.S. degree in Hotel Administration from Penn State University, State College, PA. 

Later that year, Jim attended USAF Officer Training School and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on December 21, 1962. He was assigned to the 3615 Pilot Training Wing at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama where he graduated in the Class of 64-E on February 5, 1964. For the remainder of his service for our country Jim flew C-130 aircraft tactical air command missions throughout the U.S., South America, Central America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. In 1965, during the Vietnam War, his squadron moved to the Philippines where he flew tactical missions out of Saigon under adverse weather conditions and rough forward area airfields. From March 1967 to March 1968, while with the 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron, Jim, as First Pilot, flew classified missions throughout the Far East.

During his time at Yokota Air Force Base in Tokyo, Jim’s interest in auto racing was heightened when he developed a relationship with Yoshimura Competition Motors. While he did some racing in Japan, he also began a company called American-Yoshimura, a U.S. distributor for Yoshimura Racing Engines. When Jim returned to the U.S., he sponsored cars with these engines that competed successfully at the Daytona ARRC and numerous SCCA events in the Northeast Division during 1969.  Concurrently, Jim raced a two-seat sportscar in SCCA competitions and later drove a Formula Ford as one of the early members of IMSA. His interest in auto racing competition lasted long after his days as a driver and it was rare he missed a broadcast of a sports car or Grand Prix event or an opportunity to watch a race in person. Most recently, Jim stayed awake all night as a spectator at the Rolex 24 race in Daytona and enjoyed a weekend near Birmingham watching the Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsport Park. A highlight of that trip was also spending a day at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, a museum housing a huge collection of new and vintage motorcycles and Lotus race cars.

After leaving the Air Force in February 1967, Jim began his career at TWA where he flew multiple aircraft domestically and internationally until his retirement in January 2001. 

Jim had many interests and hobbies including sailing, flying, building and flying radio-controlled model aircraft, planning and taking self- guided trips including a 4-month trip driving across the country in his motor home, cooking and eating a good meal, endlessly rooting for his Nittany Lions and his Seattle Seahawks, listening to opera and marching bands, having a lively political conversation and wanting to adopt and take home every dog he ever pet and befriended. In recent years he came to love fishing after moving to coastal North Carolina. Most of all, though, he cherished his beloved family and the time he spent with them.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon, and children Michael (Christy) Needham and Chrissy (Ryan) Chappell, his three grandchildren, Riley and Maxwell Needham and Theodore Chappell, his sister, Frances Needham Roethgen, his sister-in-law, Nancy (Ernie) Nesheim Brown and several nephews and a niece all who will continue to grow with love in his legacy. Predeceasing him in death are his parents, James and Frances Needham of Palm Beach, FL.

It brings Jim’s family great pride and comfort that he will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. 

The family is hosting a celebration of Jim’s life on March 23rd at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, 349 Elm St., Stonington, CT, from 11 am to 1 pm. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The News Building, 220 East 42nd St., New York, NY 10017, or the Wounded Warrior Project, 370 7th Avenue, Suite 1802, New York, NY 10001.