Frederick John "Popeye" Lucas (18 August 1915 – 4 October 1993) was a New Zealand World War II and commercial aviator, farmer and tourist operator.
He was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 18 August 1915, the second child of Charles Frederick Lucas, a farmer, and Ethel Jean Smith.
His resemblance to the cartoon character and a party trick (swiveling his dentures in his mouth) earned him the nickname "Popeye".
[1] Following the death of his wife Joan on 15 December 1941, Lucas was posted back to New Zealand in March 1942. was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross in April.
[1] However, Lucas could not get flying out of his blood, so he and fellow pilot Bill Hewett formed a freight, scenic and charter company at Queenstown in September 1947.
They finally obtained a government license in 1950 to run a twice-weekly, later daily, passenger service between Queenstown and Dunedin.