In Loving Memory of John "Morfiend" Asselin
JG-11 | Aces High Trainer | Friend | Fighter
At 1800 hours on July 17th, 2025, John "Morfiend" Asselin took his final flight. A longtime squadmate, mentor, and dear friend to many of us in the Aces High community, Morf passed away after battling cancer and a number of long-term health conditions.
Morf joined JG-11 around June 2009 and quickly became an integral part of the squad. A fixture in Friday Squad Operations (FSO), Morfiend participated in 508 FSO events—508 Friday nights flying together—earning 301 kills and 507 assists—but his greatest impact wasn't in numbers. It was in his patience, generosity, and heart. Whether it was training new players in the TA or watching a squadmate’s six in combat, John was always there. Reliable. Steady. Calm. He gave more to this game and community than most will ever realize.
He once shared with us that he came to flight sims after a life filled with sports, martial arts, and even teaching kids—one of whom made the Canadian Olympic TKD team. A tragic hand injury in the early '90s left him with chronic pain and a condition called RSD. That, in turn, brought him to virtual skies. "Playin' Aces High got me through some dark days," he told us, and I think many of us can relate. We were his crew—and he was ours.
His callsign, Morfiend, came from the morphine doctors prescribed to manage his pain. But if you ever flew with him, you know—his strength was anything but artificial. This man was a warrior in every sense of the word.
Morf was married to the same woman for 45 years, raised a son, and bred dogs—bull terriers and staffies, mostly—for over three decades. But here in Aces High, he gave just as much of himself. He helped shape this community through FSO, through training, and through the simple act of showing up—week after week, year after year.
I like to think Morf's out there now, wheels up one last time—back with his old wingman Walter “Vilkas” Gruzas, and flying alongside legends like Tequila Chaser (Johnny) and Akak. And not just them, but all the Aces High pilots we’ve lost over the years. They’re all together now, somewhere in that endless sky—flying free, no lag, no pain, just perfect wings and blue horizons.
A Memorial Flight will be held in his honor on Sunday, July 27th at 19:00 EST in the Training Arena, commemorating his long-time role as an Aces High Trainer. We encourage anyone who flew with Morf—or was trained by him—to join, share stories, screenshots, or even just a salute.
Blue skies forever, Morfiend. We'll miss your presence on the comms, your steady hand in the fight, and your heart behind the screen.
~MDStampf & the JG-11 Squad
