Lt. Colonel (ret) Russell Eggert June 1919 ~ September 7, 2009
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

 
Retired Lt. Colonel Russell Eggert, 90, longtime Lemoyne resident, died September 7, 2009 in the Garden County Hospital in Oshkosh.

Col. Eggert was born in Arthur County, Nebraska in June 1919.  In 1930 the Eggert family moved north of Hershey.  Mr. Eggert graduated from Hershey High School in 1937. 

Col. Eggert's flying career began in 1936.  He received his pilot license in 1937, flying a Curtiss-Wright Pusher aircraft.  His first aircraft was a 1930 Arrow Sport.  His second aircraft was a 1937 Taylorcraft which he flew until departing the United States in  June 1940

He married Marjorie Gaunt in June 1940.  With a log book of 486 flying hours and with war clouds covering the European Theatre, Eggert crossed the border at Windsor Ontario and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Following induction into the RCAF he received his wings flying a Fairey-Battle aircraft.  With the rank of Sergeant Pilot his first assignment was an instructor in basic flight.  Twenty-three months later Eggert was promoted to Pilot Officer and assigned to RCAF Headquarters at Trenton Ontario, with duty as instructor pilot on advanced aircraft teaching aerobatics, gunnery and operational flying. 

In June 1943 Eggert was assigned on Ops Flying R.A.F. Boulton-Paul Defiant, and the Bristol Beau fighter aircraft on night interception.Pilots and other aircrew personnel from British Commonwealth countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were assigned to R.A.F. operational units.

On July 8th, 1943 Eggert destroyed his first enemy aircraft, the second on September 8th and a third on September 19th 1943.   Eggert returned to Canada in December 1943.  He was assigned as Aircraft Commander on C-60 type aircraft, carrying passengers and cargo throughout Canada, New Foundland, Labrador, Baffin Land, and Greenland. 

In August 1944 Col. Eggert transferred to the United States Air Force and was assigned to the Ferrying Division delivering B-17, B-24, P-38, A-20 and B-25 type aircraft.  His next assignment was in the CBI (China, Burma, India) theatre.  Flying as aircraft commander, Eggert flew 526 combat hours over the famous "Hump" the Himalayan Mountains into China flying the B-24 type aircraft. 

Following the end of WW2, Captain Eggert elected to remain in the Theatre and at Calcutta he transferred to the Military Transport Command.  He flew as Aircraft Commander and Instructor on C-54 type aircraft, flying scheduled military routes from Calcutta to Kunming, Ipin, Chunking, Peiping, Shanghai, Canton, Manila and Japan, carrying passengers and cargo. 

Returning to the U.S. in 1947, Eggert was assigned to Travis AFB in California, flying scheduled air routes to Hawaii, Wake Island, Kwajlein, Guam, Manila and Tokyo, carrying passengers and cargo.  He was assigned duties as Instructor Pilot, Chief Pilot and Operations Officer. 

His next assignment was to Hawaii, flying the same missions, routes and aircraft, as Aircraft Commander and Flight Examiner.  The Russian Blockade of Berlin took him to Fassburg Germany where he flew 212 missions, carrying foods and fuel into Berlin.  Seventeen months later Captain Eggert was back in Hawaii flying Pacific routes.  He took part in the testing of seven atomic weapons at Einewetok and Bikini Islands.  Next, there was a change in aircraft, the new Boeing Stratacrusier, and Eggert was flying as Aircraft Commander, Flight Examiner and Chief Pilot. 

Eggert's next assignment for one year was on the same aircraft with passengers and cargo on Atlantic routes to England, France, Germany, and Italy.  When he returned to Travis he flew the Boeing on Pacific routes, as Command Pilot, Flight Examiner and Chief Pilot. 

His next assignment was air weather flying in Alaska flying B-29 and B-50 aircraft.  Flights included 26 flights over the North Pole and the same to Adak in the Aleutian Chain.  Eggert was then with the Air Rescue Group near Anchorage flying Gruman flying boats and C-54 aircraft for land and over water rescue.  Major Eggert flew several "support missions" to an ice island near the North Pole and thereby provided support to personnel there.  Then it was back to Travis and the Boeing, Pacific routes, as Aircraft Commander, Flight Examiner, and Chief Pilot. 

In 1960 at the beginning of the jet age MATS transferred the Boeings to Air Guard Units throughout the U.S.  Col. Eggert was assigned to the Air Guard Wing at Minneapolis, MN.  As Advisor and Flight Examiner Eggert's duties included checking out Air Guard personnel on world-wide air routes in the Boeing. 

Col. Eggert retired in 1967 with a total of 3426 flying hours with the British and over 17,000 hours with the USAF.  His accident free flying career is unmatched.  He was one of the leading passenger pilots in the USAF.  Col. Eggert also held Civilian Air Transport rating #94428. 

Col. Eggert was a past member of the Scottish Rite of Springfield, MA. and Ben-Ali Shrine of Sacramento, CA.  A 32 Degree Mason he is a sixty-year member of the   Masonic Blue Lodge.  He also belongs to the Order of Eastern Star.  Col. Eggert is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ogallala and then attended Martin Bay Community Church. 

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Marjorie, two sisters Mildred and Thelma, and brothers Raymond, George, Joseph, and Everett. 

Survivors include his daughter Sheila Donohue of Tucson, AZ. and son Bruce Eggert of Santa Rosa, CA.  Five Grandchildren and  five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be Monday, September 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home. 

Funeral Service will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time in Martin Bay Community Church near Keystone with  Pastor Duane Dunwoody  officiating. 

Masonic rites will be given by Ogallala Masonic Lodge #159 AF & AM and funeral rites will be given by Ogallala Order of Eastern Star # 142.  A memorial has been established to the Order of Eastern Star #142. 

Interment  in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, NE. is scheduled at 2 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday.  The United States Air Force Honor Guard will render full military honors. 

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Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.