RIP, Professor

Things I didn't know about Russell Johnson, AKA The Professor (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014)from Gilligans Island:

• He lived on Bainbridge Island, just upwind of me.  (Well, across the sound...)
• During WWII he was a navagtor on B-25 Mitchells -- which pleases me as a military history and aviation geek, because that's my favorite WWII airplane.
• His plane ditched after a mission off Zamboanga in the Philippines, and he really was a castaway for a three hour tour that lasted a little bit longer...
• Was awarded the Purple Heart for that mission, on which he broke both ankles.  Also the Air Medal and various campaign and other service ribbons.
• Until The Professor came along, he was always typecast as the heavy.
• Tried to get a role on the Original Star Trek.

Hat-tip, appropriately enough, to The Professor. 

Wikipedia article, IMDB article.  (Note that the IMDB article seems confused as to aircraft types.)