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BILL DISBROW Obituary

MAJOR BILL L. DISBROW USAF RET. Age 96, peacefully passed away on June 8, 2012, in Wildomar, CA. Bill was born on September 23, 1915 in Oakland, California. He had his first airplane ride in a Jenny as a young boy and decided flying was his passion. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1943 and was flying B24s with the 15th Air Force in World War II completing 50 missions. He survived 7 missions to the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania, the graveyard of the 15th Air Force. He also flew in the Korean War, and after was a test pilot and squadron commander. Bill retired after more than 21 years of active duty. He was an investigator, high school mechanics teacher creating the first high school aeronautics program for the Los Angeles School District. He was a world-class snow skier and skied into his 90's, and loved ballroom dancing. He also wrote his autobiography titled, "On the Edge." He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is survived by his four daughters: Sherry Peterson (Brandt), Pati Kent (Art), Karen Williamson (Paul) of Huntington Beach and Gale Bjelland (Richard) of Canyon Lake, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. He loved his family. He will be interred at the Riverside National Cemetery, with full military honors.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Press-Enterprise on Jun. 16, 2012.

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2 Entries

Isaac Gearring

January 9, 2022

My belated condolences to the Disbrow Family! He was my high school teacher for automotive mechanics at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, CA! All of the planes he flew were posted on the boards in the classroom! I missed a golden opportunity to be mentored by a great air force veteran before I joined the air force! May his soul rest in peace!

wm garren

June 16, 2013

everyone at eaa 403 sends their best to bills family we miss him

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