Robert Worley

He was the father of 5 and a loving husband. Age 48 at time of death.

Fighter pilot in WW2 also; shot down over North Africa, found way back to unit, wounded. Career spanned 28 years.

A native of southern CA-Riverside. Was 10 days away from new assignment in Hawaii at PACAF. Left behind also a brother, sister, mom, dad (my aunt, uncle, grandparents.) I was 25 when he died, my brother, the youngest, was 12. We also belong to an organization called Sons/Daughters in Touch specifically for children of fathers lost in Vietnam.

My brother became a graduate of the Air Force Academy in 1978, and retired as a Major General also, now works for the VA.

Gen. Worley was my father, shot down and killed in Vietnam in July l968. He was the 5th general officer to die in Vietnam, and was age 48.

He left behind his wife Bette, my mom, and 5 children ages 25 to 12.

He was a WWII pilot of considerable experience in battle, and on that day in July he and his co-pilot were in an RF-4 Phantom jet taking pictures of enemy installations. To get accurate photos, you have to fly low, and then are subjected to enemy ground fire, which is what happened. The plane, on fire, landed in the water near a beach, the co-pilot ejected and was rescued. As a family we were privileged to meet him years later in San Antonio when a replica of their plane was dedicated and remains on display there. He was Col. Robert Brodman, an AF Major at the time.