North Haverhill, NH – Russell Burton Page, 93, died on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Grafton County Nursing Home, North Haverhill. Russell was born in Ryegate, VT, February 13, 1920, the son of Sewell and Alice (Smith) Page. Russell and his family moved to Groton, VT in 1921. His dad built and operated the Square Front Garage in Groton. As a young boy, he spent many hours with his dad at the garage. Sewell died in 1934. Russell lived and worked on many farms in the area. After graduating from Groton High School, he worked for Peter Gallerani and Sons in East Corinth, VT, buying cattle and taking them to market in the Boston, MA area. On October 29, 1941 he joined the US Army Air Corps. On March 2, 1943 he married Phyllis Caldwell in Lyndonville, VT. Russell was stationed at various bases in the United States, before being sent overseas to Benghazi in 1943. They trained in the B-24 Liberator Bombers in the desert for low level flights. On August 1, 1943, which was named "Black Sunday," they went on the low level raid on the Ploesti Romanian oil fields. The raid was a massive and early effort to put nine oil refineries out of action that were feeding the Nazi war machine. On the return flight back to their base, their badly damaged B-24 bomber, named "Hadley's Harem," went down off the coast of Turkey. Russell and six other crew members survived and three did not. The seven crew members were captured by Turkish forces and interned for 30 days. He then came back to Florida. Russell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extreme bravery in combat. Russell's name still appears on a B-24 Liberator that flies on occasion into the area. After discharge on October 15, 1945, Russell and his wife lived in Monroe, NH. He worked at East Ryegate Paper Mill and was a cattle dealer on the side. They moved to Pike, NH and operated a truck garden and worked for Grafton Fuel and Wells River Paper. Russell's wife Phyllis died in 1965. He then married Marjorie (Davidson) Copeland on January 12, 1967. They enjoyed camping and going to races. The last years he really enjoyed watching the Red Sox play. Russell was a life member of the VFW Post # 5245 of North Haverhill, NH. He was predeceased by his parents; wife, Phyllis Caldwell Page; a grandson, Michael McDonough; and a brother, Ronald Page. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Marjorie (Davidson) Page of North Haverhill; a daughter, Andrea Petit and husband John of Madison, NH; a son, Alan Page and wife Shirley of Micanopy, FL; three step sons, Dale Copeland of Norfolk, VA, Brian Copeland and wife Roxanne of Keene, NH, and Darrell Copeland and wife Elizabeth of Framingham, MA; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a sister, Marjorie Burrill of Monroe, NH; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
(Obtained from Ricker Funeral Home)
(Obtained from Ricker Funeral Home)
North Haverhill, NH – Russell Burton Page, 93, died on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Grafton County Nursing Home, North Haverhill. Russell was born in Ryegate, VT, February 13, 1920, the son of Sewell and Alice (Smith) Page. Russell and his family moved to Groton, VT in 1921. His dad built and operated the Square Front Garage in Groton. As a young boy, he spent many hours with his dad at the garage. Sewell died in 1934. Russell lived and worked on many farms in the area. After graduating from Groton High School, he worked for Peter Gallerani and Sons in East Corinth, VT, buying cattle and taking them to market in the Boston, MA area. On October 29, 1941 he joined the US Army Air Corps. On March 2, 1943 he married Phyllis Caldwell in Lyndonville, VT. Russell was stationed at various bases in the United States, before being sent overseas to Benghazi in 1943. They trained in the B-24 Liberator Bombers in the desert for low level flights. On August 1, 1943, which was named "Black Sunday," they went on the low level raid on the Ploesti Romanian oil fields. The raid was a massive and early effort to put nine oil refineries out of action that were feeding the Nazi war machine. On the return flight back to their base, their badly damaged B-24 bomber, named "Hadley's Harem," went down off the coast of Turkey. Russell and six other crew members survived and three did not. The seven crew members were captured by Turkish forces and interned for 30 days. He then came back to Florida. Russell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extreme bravery in combat. Russell's name still appears on a B-24 Liberator that flies on occasion into the area. After discharge on October 15, 1945, Russell and his wife lived in Monroe, NH. He worked at East Ryegate Paper Mill and was a cattle dealer on the side. They moved to Pike, NH and operated a truck garden and worked for Grafton Fuel and Wells River Paper. Russell's wife Phyllis died in 1965. He then married Marjorie (Davidson) Copeland on January 12, 1967. They enjoyed camping and going to races. The last years he really enjoyed watching the Red Sox play. Russell was a life member of the VFW Post # 5245 of North Haverhill, NH. He was predeceased by his parents; wife, Phyllis Caldwell Page; a grandson, Michael McDonough; and a brother, Ronald Page. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Marjorie (Davidson) Page of North Haverhill; a daughter, Andrea Petit and husband John of Madison, NH; a son, Alan Page and wife Shirley of Micanopy, FL; three step sons, Dale Copeland of Norfolk, VA, Brian Copeland and wife Roxanne of Keene, NH, and Darrell Copeland and wife Elizabeth of Framingham, MA; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a sister, Marjorie Burrill of Monroe, NH; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
(Obtained from Ricker Funeral Home)
(Obtained from Ricker Funeral Home)
