STEINHAGEN, William A. "Bill" Steinhagen, 
81, of Franklin, VA died Monday (July 25, 
2005) at Southampton Memorial Hospital. 
Born January 15, 1924 in Oak Park, IL; 
he was a son of the late William Henry 
and Eleanor Clausen Steinhagen and was a 
pilot in the U.S. Navy serving in the 
African and Pacific theatre during WWII. 
Bill continued a career in the commercial 
airline industry as a long time pilot 
Captain with several companies, including 
Union Camp, Travelers Ins, John Deere and 
ONA, finishing his long career as CEO for 
American International Airlines. He was a 
member of High Street United Methodist 
Church, Airline Pilots Association and a 
friend of Bill W. Bill enjoyed the sport of 
bird hunting and being a part of the 
Pheasants Plucker's Association. 

Survivors include his two daughters, 
Sherrie S. Chirls and her husband, Cliff 
Chirls of Mercer Island, WA and Terrie 
Steinhagen of Wethersfield; his son, W. 
Scott Steinhagen of Phoenix, Arizona; 
four grandchildren, Amie De Rosa of 
Beverly MA, Kevin, Alan and Elaine Chirls 
of Washington; and a step-granddaughter, 
Lindsay Virginia Haas; along with his very 
dear friend, Marian McCain Magee and her 
children, Nancy M. Haas and a Michael J. 
Magee.He was predeceased by his wife, 
Patricia "Pat" Doose Steinhagen. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. 
Thursday, August 4, at High Street United 
Methodist Church with the Rev. Myron Simmons 
and Rev. Edward C. Johnson officiating. 
Burial and graveside services will be in 
Simsbury Cemetery, Simsbury, at a later date. 
The family suggests memorial donations be 
made to the American Cancer Society c/o Mrs. 
June S. Cooley, 112 Sunset Dr., Franklin or 
High Street United Methodist Church, 
P.O. Box 218, Franklin, VA 23851. Wright 
Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

I have been asked many times to write a story for the ONA web 
and now with the letter from Bill's grand daughter of his passing 
I will tell one as a tribute to Bill and his family.
My sincere condolences.

During the early Electra Freighter days we were flying out of 
Ogden Utah's Hill AFBon Logair runs 
through the western states. I was assigned to fly F/o with 
Bill for 3 or 4 months straight.  At night we would play pool 
at the hotel by stuffing towels in the holes so that we wouldn't 
have to pay but once a night. Everytime I would beat Bill he 
would say "there goes your landings for tomorrow" and he 
eventually ran me non current and I had to go back to Oklahoma 
City to get three Landings in for currency.

Well lo and behold, about 10 years later I was flying Captain 
for IAB and they sent me Bill Steinhagen for my F/O on the DC8 and 
it was payback time.  We made about 5 stops up to Narita and 
overnighted but no pool table available, so we played bumper pool 
with the same result.  The next day as we are taxing out Bill 
launches into this very long disertation on how he is going to 
fly this departure. As we start down the runway he begins to 
push the power up, and I tapped his hand and said thanks but I 
have the aircraft and Mogey finished adding the power and away 
we went. As Bill was raising the gear he turns to Mogey and 
says, "Well it took him long enough to get even".
 
As the Steinhagens, Marshalls etc, that I flew with and learned 
from all of those years at ONA make their last flights, I thank 
God that I made the choice I did when I left the Marine Corps 
and joined ONA in 1968 instead of United or Delta. Some time 
money made is not the best way to judge a sucessful carreer!  

By the way, when we were flying the L188, how may of you can 
remember Bill carrying an old leather flying helmet and googles 
in his flight kit just in case the electric windsheild heat 
failed, he was going to stick his head out the side window in 
icing like he used to do in the DC3's.

We will all be missing Bill.

Regards to all,
Paul Witting


SY WEINER, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, AUGUST 4, 2005
Bill Steinhagen and I joined ONA for the first Electra 
class and were friends until now. 
 
The last time I saw Bill we were getting a certificate 
for an airline in Atlantic city. He was the most helpful 
pilot we had. Tonight, at sunset, I will face West and 
hoist a drink to a fine pilot and wish him a "good trip'.  
Sy Weiner
U.N. Pakistan Refugee Program - 1974 




Rick Skala, Ted Sekola & Keith Latham 
accepting U.N. Commendation

Photo by Jack Gold from Horizons

DACCA 1974