Russel Merrill

1894	Born in Des Moines, Iowa
1917	Six months short of graduation from Cornell University, he enlists in the U.S. Navy. After a short time patrolling the Atlantic coast, he transfers to the Naval Aviation Service
1918	March 12, earns gold wings becoming the 469th Naval aviator
1925 August 3rd	After 10 hours and twenty minutes of flying over three days, Merrill and Roy Davis complete their flight from Juneau to Seward, it is the first civilian flight across the Gulf of Alaska
1925	Begins effort to build the flying business in Alaska by barnstorming, charter flights, and being Alaska’s first flying fish spotter in the month of August Merrill continues to set several aviation “firsts” for the State of Alaska, is the first to fly an aircraft into Anchorage, first to fly to Seldovia, and the first to fly to Kodiak Island
1926	Merrill and Davis form the Alaska-Oregon-Washington Airplane Company hoping to serve the Bristol Bay fishing community
1927	Becomes the Chief pilot for Anchorage Air Transport, Inc. On November 8, Merrill discovers a pass through the Alaska Range to the Kuskokwim. It is named Merrill Pass in his honor
1929	September 16, Merrill departs Lake Spenard to take supplies to a mine near Nyac, he never returns
1932	September 25, Anchorage Municipal Airport is renamed Merrill Field