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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Rachel P. Van Tuyl

Russell M. Van Tuyl was born December 27, 1906. In 1930, Russell received initial training at the U.S. Flight Training Center in Pensacola, Florida. He was designated as Naval Aviator and commissioned as Ensign in April 1931. He served on active duty (USNR) with the Pacific Fleet as plane commander aboard the USS West Virginia (1931-1932). He was employed by United Airlines as co-pilot (on Ford Tri-Motors) in June 1933. He was promoted to Captain in 1937 and served in this capacity until June, 1942. At this time, he took a leave of absence from United Airlines and returned to active duty with the US Navy to assist in the implementation at of the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS). He was assigned to teach new pilots instrument flying and wrote a complete manual on instrument flying, plus flying the North Atlantic route. He returned to United Airlines service in the summer of 1945 after discharge from the Navy as Commander. He served in Captain and Check Pilot/Instructor capacities until 1948. He was then appointed Flight Manager at the middle management level and continued in supervisory assignments and active flight status on DC-8s until January 1, 1967 until mandatory retirement at age 60. Russell died at the age of 96 January 3, 2003.