[paulmcmillan]

George Thanks

Lt(jg) Edgar George Osborn
BIRTH 23 Nov 1912
Napa County, California, USA
DEATH 5 Jul 1998 (aged 85)



St. Helena Star, February 24, 1939


Lieut. Edgar Osborn Has Thrilling
Escape From Falling Plane

St. Helenan broke into the national headlines this week as one of its native sons saved his life high over Florida by taking to his parachute.

The St. Helena who thus became a sudden member of the caterpillar club was Lieutenant Edgar G. Osborn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Osborn, of St. Helena, one of 6 navy pilots who were saved when their ships, lost in a pea soup fog, vainly cruised over Florida seeking a landing field. As gas ran low, the fliers jumped.

Osborn's plan was one of 12 trapped in the fog in a routine night flight. Two other fliers lost their lives attempting to land, while three planes found a hole in the fog and came down safely. Osborn was married last year in rites performed at Rochester, Minn.

He was born in the Vineland district and after completing his education at Arcata, received the appointment to Annapolis form which he was graduated in 1934.

He has been stationed at San Diego and more recently at the naval air state at Pensacola, from which he took off on the flight when nearly ended in tragedy. Osborn is expected to visit his parents here soon.