Robert F. Worley

Robert F. Worley (October 10, 1919 – July 23, 1968) was a United States Air Force major general and fighter pilot who was killed in action in 1968, in South Vietnam. General Worley was one of three U.S. Air Force general officers (pilots) who were casualties of the Vietnam War.

Robert F. Worley
BornOctober 10, 1919 (1919-10-10)
DiedJuly 23, 1968 (1968-07-24) (aged 48)
Thừa Thiên Province, South Vietnam
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1940–1968
RankMajor General
Commands heldUSAAF: 314th Fighter Squadron (North Africa)
1st Fighter Squadron (Pacific)
Battles/warsWorld War II
Vietnam War †
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal (8)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Purple Heart (3)

Early life

General Worley was born in Riverside, California.

US Air Force career

Worley began his military career in October 1940 at March Field, California and graduated from pilot training at Brooks Field, Texas, in May 1941, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. During the next two years he served at Mitchel Field, New York, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore Municipal Airport as a fighter pilot and as a squadron commander.

World War II

During World War II, he participated in the North African, Sicily, and Italian campaigns, and the Pacific theater campaigns. His combat record included 120 aerial missions with 215 combat hours in the P-40 and P-47 fighter planes. While in command of the 314th Fighter Squadron based in North Africa, Captain Worley was shot down on his first mission while flying close air support for US ground troops in the African desert, he walked back through the enemy lines and returned to his unit. Promoted to major, he went on to command the 1st Fighter Squadron in the Pacific War.

Following World War II, he helped organize and commanded the jet transitional school at Williams Field, Arizona.

Vietnam War and death

General Worley commanded the 831st Air Division at George Air Force Base, California and was then assigned to Tactical Air Command headquarters on 30 December 1964 as assistant deputy for operations, command and control. He then transferred to Twelfth Air Force headquarters in Waco, Texas, where he served as deputy for operations. He also served as Director of Operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters in Germany. A graduate of the Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., General Worley was rated a command pilot and parachutist.

In 1966, General Worley was appointed as vice-commander of the Seventh Air Force.[1]

On 23 July 1968, Major General Worley was flying an RF-4C Phantom aircraft when it was hit by ground fire and crashed approximately 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.

He and his wife, Bette Lorraine Worley (1920–2011), are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Major General Robert Franklin Worley". U.S. Air Force. 30 November 1966. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. Burial Detail: Worley, Robert F (Section 30, Grave 370-RH) – ANC Explorer

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force website https://www.af.mil.

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