William B Nash passed away at the age of 101 on March 13, 2019 at his home in
Fort Myers, Florida, with his family by his side.
Bill was born on May 15, 1917 in Atlantic City, NJ, where he spent the first
19 years of my life. He graduated from the Atlantic City High School in 1937,
and 4 years later, in 1941, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from
Temple University.
Bill was also actively involved in scouting, learned to play the bugle, and
worked at the Boy Scout summer camp as the camp bugler, as well as teaching
canoeing and water safety. At age 18 he was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.
From early childhood on Bill was fascinated by aviation and spent much time
hanging around Bader Airfield which was just a few blocks from his home. He made
himself useful by sweeping out hangars and making friends with the pilots. When
Bill was 12 years old they gave him his first flying lessons in their OX-5
Challenger single engine biplanes, towing advertising banners and taking
passengers on sightseeing flights. Bill soloed a Challenger in 1932 at age
15.
While at College Bill completed five Civilian Pilot Training Courses,
graduating with a Commercial License and an Instructor’s rating. Soon after he
acquired Instrument Rating at American Airport in Park Ridge, Illinois. He
studied at the Boeing School of Aeronautics, then flew for United Airlines one
year. Wanting to fly internationally he resigned United Airlines and joined Pan
American Airways in August 1942 to fly their Boeing 314 Flying Boats.
During World War II, among many other assignments, Pan Am’s Boeing 314’s flew
shuttle flights carrying war materials and personnel between Natal, Brazil, and
Fisherman’s Lake, Liberia. The distance from Natal to Fisherman’s Lake is 2150
statute miles (1876 nautical miles). Pan Am B-314’s were the only planes in the
world which could fly this distance non-stop.
Part way through WWII the U.S. Navy Air acquired the PB2Y, a new four-engine
consolidated flying boat. The Navy asked Pan Am for some of its flying boat
pilots to fly them and, among others, Bill volunteered. Those who volunteered to
fly the plane were commissioned as Naval officers. Bill spent the rest of the
war assigned to it as needed as part of the Naval Air Transport Service. During
that time he also continued scheduled B-314 routes flying for Pan American
Airways.
He proudly served in the United Stated Air Force during World War II and also
flew for the U.S. Navy. Among his awards, he received the WWII Victory Medal,
European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal and
Honorable Service Lapel Button. He received honorable discharges for both the
Air Force and Navy. He was also a member of the Society of Mayflower
Descendants, Sons of the American Revolution, Experimental Aircraft Association,
and OX5 Pioneers
After the war Bill flew land propellor airliners out of Miami, Florida to the
Caribbean, Central and South America. In 1947 he married a Pan Am stewardess,
Alice Barry. Bill and Alice adopted 3 children in 1954. Alice died suddenly in
1957, and Bill’s mother moved in with him and for the next 17 years helped raise
his children. In 1962 Bill and his family transferred to Germany where Bill flew
in the the Pan American Internal German Service (IGS)
On one of his trips to Hannover Bill met Eva and they were married in 1968.
Five years later their son was born in Berlin, Germany. Bill stayed in Germany
15 years until retirement in 1977, at the mandatory retirement age of 60, having
flown 35 years for Pan American Airways, 31 years of those as Captain. For 12 of
his 15 years based in Berlin, Germany, Bill flew the B-727 Jet.
In addition to his love for aviation Bill enjoyed many hobbies including
reading, writing, economics, the sciences, U.F.Os, old cars, and antique guns.
After retirement Bill and Eva moved to Fort Myers, FL, with their 4-yr. old son
and Bill’s mother. When their son joined the Boy Scouts Bill volunteered to
serve as Merritt badge counselor and taught water safety at camp. He also owned
and flew a “Starduster Too” aerobatic 2-seat open cockpit biplane for pleasure,
and taught his son to fly in it.
Having a much younger wife and raising a young son to adulthood kept Bill
very active all of these nearly 40 years after retirement. They traveled the
world, were active in their church, and enjoyed many visits with friends and
family. The children are grown now and have children of their own.
Bill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Eva-Maria A. Nash; his children:
Maria Alley, Juanita Akers, William B. Nash, Jr. and Mark B. Nash; his
grandchildren: Martita, Richard, Brenton and Bryan and 3 great grandchildren:
Margaret Rose, Shyanne and Thayer.