Information of TTFLY: It's saddened to hear of the death of Elroy “Buck” Hilbert of unio, Illinois, on Wednesday, August 3. He was 91 years of age.

Buck has gone west after a lifetime of being deeply immersed in aviation from his earliest days as a lineboy at the old Chicago Elmhurst Airport wher he soloed an Aeronca LA Chief at 16, which was quickly followed by a thrilling solo in Jack Rose’s tiny 40-hp open cockpit Parrakeet biplane. Following his military aviation career during World War II and Korea, Buck joined United Airlines in 1952 and flew a full airline career in DC-3s, Convairs, Viscounts, DC-6s, DC-7s, 707s, 727s, and concluded his United cockpit career in DC-8s; he retired from United in 1989.

A memorial service for Buck will take place Saturday, October 1, 2016, at 4 p.m., at the Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum (C77), with light refreshments served afterwards concluding with a sunset tribute flight. The address for the museum is 5151 Orth Rd, Poplar Grove, Illinois.