Byron Schlag
May 01, 2024 - November 25, 2003
Age 78, of West View, died, Tues., Nov. 25, 2003, at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital. Byron was a 1954 graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Agricultural Economics and went on to become one of the principal owners and a manager of the former North Hills Dairy – a well known producer and distributor of dairy products in the Greater Pittsburgh area. He was also involved in local residential real estate development, including projects such as White Oaks Heights and Hiland Pines. In addition he managed portions of the Treasure Lake Development in DuBois, PA for Westinghouse Capital. From the 1970’s until his retirement in 1995, he was involved in sales and marketing of agriculture products in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area, Byron was born in Pittsburgh in 1925, the eldest son of William Byron and Marguerite (Goldsmith) Schlag. He is survived by three children: William Schlag of Pittsburgh, Sandra Fitzpatrick of Leverett Massachusetts and Ronald Schlag of Doylestown, PA; a sister Marguerite Scott of Wesley Chapel, Florida; also three grandchildren. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Force and was based in Rattesden, England, serving as a tail gunner in a B-17 with the 447 Bomb Group. On March 23, 1943, while returning from a bombing run over Germany, his plane was involved in a mid-air collision that resulted in his detainment at Giessen, Germany. He managed to escape and was hidden from the SS by sympathetic German citizens until American troops arrived. His military decorations include the European Middle Eastern Ribbon with Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Byron was affiliated with many associations during his lifetime, including the Masonic Lodge and the Syria Shriners Heritage Unit. He was a member of the school board in Cranberry Twp. and one of the founding members of the Auxiliary Deputy Sheriffs of Allegheny County. After retiring from business, Mr. Schlag devoted his considerable energies to the activities of the 447th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, serving as president from 2000 to 2002. During that time his focus was on reuniting crew members, forging new friendships and strengthening existing tires with people in Europe, who had direct contact with the 447th crew members who had been shot down. His contacts with the US Air Force Public Affairs Office resulted in the direct involvement of the local military attaches in London and Paris provide participants in these ceremonies. He had a commitment to making history come alive. His work in this area involved public speaking engagements in schools, organizing air shows involving the 8th Air Force and most recently organizing a “fly-in”
of B-17’s into Pittsburgh in October in Association with the Collings Foundation. Calling hours are Saturday, November 29, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sunday, November 30, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the T.B. DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME, 806 Perry Highway, North Hills. Memorial Service will be held Monday, December 1st, at 10 a.m. at Hiland Park Church, directly across the street from the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Allegheny Home Healthcare.
