Russell Franklin Milham Jr.

He was born on August 20, 1924, in Los Angeles, CA, to Russell Franklin Milham, Attorney-at-Law, and Marguerite Elaine (nee Loeb), artist. They were both graduates of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Russell grew up in Los Angeles, graduating from Fairfax High School in the summer of 1942.

He volunteered for the US Army Air Corps following high school graduation, and was trained as an enlisted operator and maintainer of the then highly secret capability known as radar. He was assigned to the 381st Bomb Group, Eighth Army Air Force, RAF Ridgewell, United Kingdom, flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, in December 1944. But as an enlisted radar operator and maintainer, he was only allowed to maintain radars, not to go on bombing missions - radar operators in B-17s had a crucial role in bomb release and were required by the US Army Air Forces to be commissioned officers. Frustrated at being sidelined from combat, he repeatedly requested transfers to combat roles. His application for platoon leader was turned down because of the knowledge of radar he possessed. Finally he was detailed to the Fifth Emergency Rescue Squadron, US Army Air Forces, RAF Halesworth, February 1945, with flying orders and a promotion to Sergeant. He joined the crew of a B-17 that patrolled the North Sea carrying a boat they dropped if they spotted downed aviators. While he never saw combat, he was happy to be flying.

After the war, Russell returned to Los Angeles and studied physics at UCLA. There he met, and on August 14, 1954 married, Patricia Ann Sharp, studying biology at UCLA, and daughter of then Captain, later Admiral, Ulysses S. Grant Sharp Jr., USN.

Russell began work as an electrical engineer in the aerospace industry in 1951, working for the Bendix corporation. Highlights of his 36 year career as an electrical engineer include a tour at North American Aviation working on Project Apollo, where he helped design the Apollo Command and Service Modules’ communication systems, and a lengthy tour at the former Hughes Aircraft Company, where he worked on the radar in the F-14 Tomcat fighter, F-15 Eagle fighter, FA-18 Hornet strike fighter, AIM-54 Phoenix missile, and AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

Russell enjoyed taking his family camping, hiking, and horseback riding in the High Sierras. He was an avid shutterbug and documented these camping trips, and other highlights of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives extensively, leaving a detailed record of their childhood as a priceless legacy. He continued to enjoy flying into his nineties, enthusiastically riding helicopters over Hawaii and a Commemorative Air Force B-17 over Arizona.

He was known as a thoroughgoing engineer, meticulously designing and documenting everything from radar test equipment to all improvements he made on the Milham family’s Woodland Hills home.

His marriage of 66 years ended when his wife Patricia passed in March 2021; Russell faithfully cared for Patricia and kept her at home as her health declined from Alzheimer’s disease in her final years.

Russell is also predeceased by his beloved brother, Peter Hamilton Milham, attorney-at-law, who passed in February 2021. “Uncle Pete” was much admired by Russell’s children and many more.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Josephine Shannon, and his three children, Karen Elizabeth Risch, Diane Kathleen Legler, and Peter Grant Milham. He has six grandchildren.

He was a great husband and father, a great engineer, a great man, and will be remembered, admired, emulated, and missed by his family and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the Air Force Museum Foundation, supporting the National Museum of the Air Force, in memory of Sgt. Russell F. Milham, Jr., B-17 Radar Operator, Fifth Emergency Rescue Squadron, US Army Air Forces, 1924-2023. Donations may be made online at https://www.afmuseum.com/givenow, by phone at 937.258.1225, or by mail: The Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1903, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gateskingsleygates.com for the Milham family.