Background
General Worley was born in Riverside, California.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Robert Worley
Edit Profile
Education
General 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.
Career
General Worley was one of three United States. Air Force general officers (pilots) who were casualties of the Vietnam War. During the next two years he served at Mitchel Field, New York, Bolling Field, Washington, District of Columbia and Baltimore Municipal Airport as a fighter pilot and as a squadron commander. World World War II
During World World War II, he participated in the North African, Sicily, and Italian campaigns, and the Asiatic-Pacific theater campaigns.
His combat record included 120 aerial missions with 215 combat hours in the P-40 and P-47 fighter planes.
General Worley (then a Captain) while in command of the 314th Fighter Squadron based in North Africa, was shot down on his first mission while flying close air support for United States 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 World War II, General Worley helped organize and commanded the jet transitional school at Williams Field, Arizona.
Vietnam War and death
Before assignment to Tactical Air Command headquarters on 30 December 1964 as assistant deputy for operations, command and control, General Worley commanded the 831st Air Division at George Air Force Base, California.
He then transferred to Twelfth Air Force headquarters in Waco, Texas, where he served as deputy for operations. General Worley also served as Director of Operations for United States. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters in Germany. A graduate of the Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, District of Columbia, General Worley was rated a command pilot and parachutist.
In 1966, General Worley was appointed as vice-commander of the Seventh Air Force.
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.
