Russell T. Hebert

Russell T. Hebert went west on Wednesday April 11, 2018 at the age of 94. He was born in Houma, LA and lived most of his life in New Orleans, LA. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence Schorr Hebert; his father, Eustice M. Hebert, Sr.; his mother, Lizzie Bacon Hebert; his brothers, Andrew Hebert and Eustice Mark Hebert, Jr. and his sister, Lynette Hebert. He is survived by his brother, Carroll P. Hebert and many nieces and nephews. Russell went to school at Ashland Plantation south of Houma, LA in a one room school. At the age of seven he moved to New Orleans, LA where he attended Redemptorist Catholic School, Live Oak Grade School and S.J. Peters High School. He joined the Navy at the age of 18, serving from April 1942 to January 1946. He was honorably discharged from the Navy with the rank of Aviation Machinist Mate First Class and Chief. After being discharged from the Navy he went to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport to begin his flying career. He graduated from flight school as a commercial pilot, flight instructor, ground instructor, multi engine land and sea. In 1956, Russell was issued a flight examiners certificate by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, now listed as the Federal Aviation Administration. During his flying career Russell worked for Prewitt Aircraft Company as a flight instructor; Davis Aviation; Rebel Air Seaplane as chief pilot and Ocean Drilling and Exploration as corporate pilot for 30 years. Russell received the Masters Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration for flying more than 50 years with no violations or accidents. He also received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from the State of Louisiana and many awards from the Navy for his service in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Russell was a member of the Quiet Birdman of the New Orleans Hangar, New Orleans Ghost Flying Tiger Squadron, The Stearman Restorers Association, The World War II Museum, The National Space Society, The National Astronomy Society, The National Association of Railroad Preservation, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and AARP. Russell claimed that there is no flying to compare with flying Stearman Biplanes, to feel the wind in your face and to hear the flying wires sing, this is flying at its best. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial gathering at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., in Metairie, LA on Wednesday morning, April 25, 2018 beginning at 9:30 AM with a Memorial Mass to follow at 11:30 AM in Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home’s chapel. Interment will private at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Slidell, LA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Children’s Hospital, 200 Henry Clay Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. The online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.