NEA/DL Capt. Russell E. Worth

~ IN MEMORY ~

WWII veteran, NEA/DL Capt. Russell E. Worth

October 1, 1924 ~ November 10, 2015 

Please forgive this belated notice...we received a call recently from family reporting the loss of retired NEA/Delta pilot Captain Russ Worth.  Delta Golden Wings member retired pilot Captain Russell Eric Worth was 91 years of age at the time of his passing in November of last year.  A native of Massachusetts, Captain Worth joined Northeast Airlines 05-24-1951 and retired with Delta Air Lines in November 1983, based BOS and MIA.  

To date I have not been able to locate an online obituary for Captain Worth, but I did find a military bio page online which you can view in its entirety at http://www.oughterardheritage.org/content/people/russell-worth  I've reprinted some of information below.

Captain Worth is survived by his wife Phyllis.  Personal condolences may be sent to the family at

2242 SW Racquet Club Dr., Palm City, FL 34990-2607  ...  (772) 286-7292.

Should we receive more information we will be sure to pass it along.

            Thank you,

                ~ Carol for the PCN

 

Bio & military background....Captain Russell Eric Worth..... Manchester

Evening News dated Nov. 15, 1971

FACTFILE  :  1924    Born in Lynn, near Boston Mass

     1942  Joined U.S. Navy.

     1943  Fought aboard PT189, in Pacific.

     1945  Recommended for Bronze Star.

     1946  Learned to Fly.

     1948  Left Navy.

     1951  Joined Northeast Airlines. Co-Pilot on DC3s

     1956  Promoted Captain.

     1957  Elected for one year term as Selectman for SalisburyMass.

     1958  Re-elected.

     1959  Re-elected.

     1965  Chief Captain at Boston Base (over 400 pilots).

     1970  Married Phyllis.

     1972  Northeast merges with Delta, Chief at Miami Base (600 Pilots).

      1973  Bought Boghall in Oughterard.

      1984  Retired from Delta as L1011 Captain.

 

 Profiles in Courage.....................................

 

On the afternoon of the 30th December 1944, PT189 came to the assistance of USS ORESTES which had been severely damaged in a Kamikaze attack at Margarin Bay in the Philippines.

 

Russell Worth was recommended for the Bronze Star Medal for bravery. The citation read in part:

“Aware of personal danger to himself in struggling with frantic survivors and the possibility of 80,000 gallons of 100 octane gasoline carried as cargo aboard the USS ORESTES exploding, dove into the water and towed survivors to the PT189 where they were taken aboard and treated for burns, abrasions, shock and wounds resulting from the exploding ammunition”.

 

DELTA’s International Promotion 1974....................Russell featured in DELTA’S International Promotion in TIME MAGAZINE April 1974.

The advertisement read as follows:  “DELTA is an air line run by professionals like Russ Worth. Russ made his first airline flight over 22 years ago.  Since that time, he has flown the DC-4, the DC-6, the DC-8 and the DC-9 jet. Now he’s a DELTA 727 Captain with over 15,000 hours and 6 million miles under his seat belt. Russ Worth is a Captain you can count on. And DELTA has over a thousand more like him.

DELTA is ready when you are.”

 

..................................Phyllis and Russell endeared themselves to everyone from the very beginning. Russell became actively involved in community affairs from the start.  He was involved in the Angling Club, the Show Committee and the TidyTown’s Committee.  He was a familiar sight in his overalls with a can of paint and brushes in his hand.  He painted all the park benches, water pumps, the Boat House building and gave a new look to old ruins within the town.  He picked litter and kept a watchful eye on litter black-spots in the town.  He took great pride in his adopted village. Russell was a kind, honest, generous man who willingly helped all who sought his assistance...............................................