Helicopter Pilot Began Flying Career In 1941

The Twirly Birds notes the passing of longtime member, Mr. Osvil "Ozzie" York on March 25, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma following a brief illness. Mr. York was 92 years old and had recently driven from his home in Oklahoma to attend the annual meeting of the Twirly Birds held during the HAI Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Ozzie, as he was nicknamed, began his extensive flying career in 1941 with the Canadian Air Force as a pilot and flight instructor and later with the Army Air Corp in 1945.  He soloed in a Bell 47D in 1948 and during his career, he amassed more than 15,000 hours of flight time in civil and military airplanes and helicopters around the world. His many accomplishments include almost sixty years as a pilot and mechanic for Allied Helicopters, flying and maintaining aircraft from Alaska to Florida.

A true helicopter pioneer, Mr. York first joined Twirly Birds in 1969 and had been a member of the Quiet Birdmen since 1957. In 2003, the Twirly Birds bestowed upon Mr. York, the Les Morris lifetime achievement award for his outstanding accomplishments during his lifetime.  Ozzie York will be remembered as consummate professional with a polite and humble reputation by all who knew him.
 
Services for Mr. Osvil "Ozzie" York will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 10AM, on Saturday at the Moore's Southlawn Chapel.

FMI: www.twirlybirds.org