Warbird Information Exchange

MORGAN, Flt Lt Robert (Bob) GM, CD, UE
October 27, 1930 – June 11, 2016 On Saturday, June 11, 2016, Flt Lt Robert (Bob) Morgan of St. Albert, peacefully passed away at the age of 85 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59 years, Lou; children: Lloyd (Shelley), Barb, Phil, and Patti; six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; brother, Harold (Joan); sisters: Edith (Lawrence) and Shirley; as well as numerous relatives and dear friends. He was predeceased by his son, Douglas .Flt Lt Morgan joined the RCAF in 1949, earning his wings in 1950. He joined 416 Squadron in Ottawa in 1951, flying Mustangs. In his 36 years in the Air Force, he served in Canada, England, France and Germany. As well as Mustangs, Flt Lt Morgan has flown a variety of aircraft, including Sabres, Harvards, CF 104's, Hercules, and Twin Otters. He was also a controller for Ground Intercept Radar (GCI).In 1957, Flt Lt Morgan was awarded the George Medal for bravery when he pulled an injured pilot from a burning Sabre which had crashed on the runway in Marville, France in 1955. He was named "Airman of the Year" in 1985. After leaving the Air Force, Bob became a Duty Manager at the Edmonton Municipal Airport until his second "retirement" in 1994. At that time, he was still flying with the Reserves in the Air Force. Since then, Flt Lt Morgan had continued to be involved in aviation through his 35 year membership in the Air Force Assoc., membership in 700 Wing, 418 Squadron Assoc., and as President of the Quarter Century Club. As if that isn't enough to keep him occupied, he coached the Special Olympics Bowling League, did taxes for low income and seniors, and sold poppies every year at WEM. He was honoured to receive the following: 700 Wing Member of the Year Award in 2009 and 2011, RCAFA Member of the Year Award in 2012, and a street was named after him in 2015 by the Griesbach RCAF Commemorative Society. Bob will be remembered for his humour, adventure, storytelling and his generosity.

On July 21, 1955, Morgan was a young pilot serving with 439 Squadron in Marville, France. During the Cold War in the 1950s, a young Bob Morgan was stationed in France, where he flew F-86 fighter jets. He was working in the landing shack on the airfield that day when a fellow pilot landed short of the runway and his jet burst into flames. Morgan dashed to the jet and tried to get the pilot out, but the canopy was jammed. With ammunition exploding around them, he picked up a rock to break the canopy. The fire crew showed up and someone handed Morgan an axe. He chopped a hole in the canopy and dragged his fellow pilot to safety."You don't think," he responded, when asked why he risked his own life that day. "Anybody would have done it, I guess." Two years after that dramatic rescue, Morgan was awarded the George Medal for his act of bravery. Morgan, who has lived in Edmonton since 1969, said he's proud of the role he and his fellow RCAF members played during the Cold War. During his 35 years in the air force, he flew Sabre jets, CF-104 Starfighters, twin-engine Otters and huge Hercules transport planes.

I served with Bob at the start of my career, I saw his passing posted on the 418 Facebook page this week.

He was a remarkable man.