Bill Runnels passed away

[nuuumannn]

With everyone here. Rest in peace, Bill. Mark, Thank you for notifying us and be strong, brother.

 

[N4521U]

Well said Mlfylyer.
He will be remembered.

 

[Shinpachi]

R.I.P. Bill.
Though I had few chances to talk to you, I always paid respects to your great career as well as good personality as an old man.

 

[Tieleader]

We have lost a true American hero and great friend of the forum...
Clear skies and may the wind always be at your back. RIP, Bill.

 

[ODonovan]

Deepest sympathy to the family and friends of a HELL of a guy! I have no words that can express the what the loss of Bill means to me personally. In my short time here, I saw his wit, wisdom, kindness, and insight light up these forums with his own special form of warmth and joy. There will never be another like him and we are SO much poorer for his passing.


(Courtesy of expressnews.com)



Rest well, Bill. You will be missed.


(Courtesy of National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force)



-Irish

 

[GrauGeist]

It is with a heavy heart that I read this.

Bill was only here for such a short while, but I enjoyed his conversations and his sharing of experiences. He took me back to a time when I was much younger and surrounded by these men of a generation that we may never know again.

God Speed Mr. Runnels, may the wind be at your back and the skies before you ever blue. You will be missed.

 

[Wayne Little]

Aw Man....that's not what one wants to read.......condolences to the family...

Very Glad you came to our Forum and shared your experiences with us....

Rest in Peace Bill....

 

[Shortround6]

We were enriched by his presence and we will be diminished by his absence.

 

[Peter Gunn]

Usually I'm pretty snarky or glib, today words fail me. I had many a good back and forth with Bill in his short time here, always looked forward to his posts, it was like a window back in time. I'll miss Bill greatly ( I know we all will ) he was a last link to my fathers generation, and in a way, to my father who long ago flew west, and I'm not ashamed to say I've got tears welling up writing this.

Bill and his generation were true American heroes who left the shores of their homeland ( indeed, boys from all the Allied nations ) to help save the world from tyranny. We shall not see the like of them again.

God speed Bill, Rest in Peace my friend.

 

[vikingBerserker]

So well said.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Damn it!

 

[soulezoo]

Man, I am so truly saddened. Well written words before my post and I have nothing to add to them.

R.I.P. Bill. Know you left this world, and indeed this forum, for the better because of you.

 

[tomo pauk]

Rest in peace, Bill. Tailwinds and blue skies to you.

 

[Kaibutsu]

I am very sad to hear that Bill has passed away.
He was a great man & a friend.
I will miss him and his stories.

Godspeed, Bill Runnels. - With Respect, Honor and Gratitude.

 

[Zipper730]

From Bill's son:

Hi everyone. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 93. I cant begin to tell you how much your kindness meant to him. You were a bright spot for Dad in every since of the word. I must tell you, that the day before he passed away, he was talking to his old bomber crew mates who died in 1945. They were never far from his heart. God bless you all for the love and adoration you showed my Dad. I can tell you this with certainty, that Dad was everything you perceived him to be. A wonderful husband and father and a true war hero. Thank you for honoring him the way you did.

Mark Runnels, Bill's first born

I'm so sorry about that. He seemed a genuinely nice guy

 

[A4K]

With all... RIP Bill, thankyou for being part of the team here.

My condolences to Mark and the rest of your family. Safe journey.

 

[Hansie Bloeckmann]

Such sad news, rest in peace Bill.

Always felt that Bill was prompt with his informative replies to all the many questions posted here- mine included. What a gentleman, a Veteran and willing to share with all of us of his vast areas of aircraft knowledge. Hansie

 

[Milosh]

My condolences to you Marcel and family.
I truly enjoyed Bill's posts and will miss them.

 

[ODonovan]

I hope Bill had his short snorter with him. Otherwise, the first round of drinks for his bomber crewmates was on him. Somehow, I don't think he'd mind standing for that round, though.

The Howard C. Lacker crew, together again.



-Irish

 

[Elvis]

From Bill's son:

Hi everyone. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 93. I cant begin to tell you how much your kindness meant to him. You were a bright spot for Dad in every since of the word. I must tell you, that the day before he passed away, he was talking to his old bomber crew mates who died in 1945. They were never far from his heart. God bless you all for the love and adoration you showed my Dad. I can tell you this with certainty, that Dad was everything you perceived him to be. A wonderful husband and father and a true war hero. Thank you for honoring him the way you did.

Mark Runnels, Bill's first born

Blue skies and fair winds from here on out.....RIP Bill.