In Memory of Bill Odell

Bill Von Sennet (l) and Bill Odell (r) at the Carolinas Aviation Museum June 23, 2001

Bill Odell passed away on June 8, 2005. Last fall Bill had Quadruple bypass surgery. Since then his physicians had only permitted him 30 minutes a day at the computer, so Bill had spent that time doing what he loved best: Flying a DC-3. His last flight report was posted on March 5^th. Shortly thereafter due to his failing health he was moved to a rest home near his family. The roster shows Bill has 2,918.23 hours with Bluegrass. I can attest that he has far more hours that have never been logged. Many of his flight testing adventures were never recorded.

Bill has been a prolific contributor of Features and flight adventures. Due to his life experiences he was a storehouse of aviation information. It was my privilege to communicate with Bill via hundreds of e-mails, and in June of 2001 we spent a couple of days together in Charlotte NC. Click here for that story.

Entering Bill Odell in the search box on the main page will find 24 links. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Bill was instrumental in setting up the Caribbean Hub flights. Prior to his joining the Southern Division he was a member of the Northern Division and I’m sure he shared his ideas with Capt. Bob Thompson and Bangor Hub Capt. Art Nichols.

Bill was the author of “The Berlin Airlift” a project that he worked on for several years. He was also the co-ordinator of the “Imperial Airways” feature. Not long ago Bill transferred to the Bush Pilot Division and contributed to the flights available there. He was the originator of the “Toughman Challenge” features.

In real life Bill served in World War II with the Army Corps of Engineers. He once told me that he was at Normandy on D-Day minus 1. I have always thought that perhaps he was installing a covert NDB transmitter so that the ships crossing the English Channel the next day could find the correct location to land the troops. Bill was a pilot during the war, but was unable to log his time as he was involved in “special ops”. After World War II he was a pilot with Florida Airlines, flying from Florida to the Bahama’s and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. His favorite aircraft was the Martin 4-0-4. After Florida Airlines folded he flew with Executive Airlines.

Bill was extremely proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. On behalf of the pilots of Bluegrass Airlines we extend our condolences to them.

I am not planning any special Memorial feature. Each pilot can remember Bill in their own way. As for me, I am going to fire up my ATP Capt Bill Odell DHC-3 Otter and take off from the Bill Odell float base near his former home in Cape Coral, Florida. I’ll fly the first couple of flights in his Florida Keys Adventure.

Thanks Bill for all the adventures you have shared with us.