Sam Russell Oglesby Jr.

BIRTH : 18 Nov 1921 - Great Falls, Chester County, South Carolina, USA

DEATH : 21 Oct 2003 - Age 82 - Richland County, South Carolina, USA

BURIAL :

Greenlawn Memorial Park

Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, USA

MEMORIAL ID 136958969 · View Source

Sam Russell Oglesby, Jr. was born at home on November 18, 1920, in Great Falls, South Carolina. He was son to the late Sam Russell and Pearl Gladden Oglesby. On November 10, 1945, he married Glenita Smith Oglesby in Mountain Home, Idaho. She was his beloved wife of 48 years until her death in September 1993.

Col. Oglesby was a lifetime career military pilot and decorated veteran of WWII and Korea, awarded the Silver Star. He was a member of the B-24 Hall of Fame. Following retirement from military service in 1968, he returned to South Carolina, and served as an auditor for Richland County Auditor's Office until his retirement in 1985. Col. Oglesby was a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College and served as professor of Air Science at Duquesne University. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Blythewood where he was active with the Hillclimbers "Angel" of the Sonrise Band. He was a loyal supporter of Camp Discovery and Epworth Children's Home and a member of the Georgia Masons.

Lt. Sam Oglesby flew the B-24D, 41-11620, named Edna Elizabeth, from the U.S. to North Africa as part of the Halverson Project under Col. Harry A. Halverson. He was the command pilot of the B-24D, Edna Elisabeth, on 13 of the plane's 23 combat missions. He was decorated with the Silver Star for his heroic actions on a mission over Benghazi, Libya in July 1942. His Silver Star was awarded under G.O. #22, HQUSAFIME on 11 Nov 1942. He was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC #5447) and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He remained in the Air Force after WW II and served in Korea.