Russ was commissioned in the Air Force after he graduated from Georgetown University in September 1966. In 1968 he reported to Otis AFB, MA for aircrew training on the EC-121-R as a Combat Information Control Officer. He attended Survival and Jungle Survival in June and reported for duty with the 553rd Squadron of the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing at Korat RTAFB in July, 1968. Russ flew 95 missions with Crew 1 (known as Billy's Bad Aces), and one full combat mission on a YQU-22-A out of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB. He participated in four major air campaigns, was awarded five Air Medals and his unit received an AF Outstanding Unit Award for Valor. From the combat zone Russ was assigned to Strategic Air Command HQ in Omaha. He had subsequent SAC tours with the 4th Airborne Command Control Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, as a Missile Combat Crew Commander and Operations Staff Officer at F. E. Warren AFB, WY and Grand Forks AFB, ND. From 1979 to 1982 he was Assistant Air Attache with the U. S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. From 1984 to 1988 he served with the NATO School (SHAPE) in Oberammergau, Germany. Russ and his Omaha native wife, Patty (nee Getzschman) returned to SAC HQ in 1988 where Russ retired in 1990. They reside here in Papillion.
