Lt
Col Robert Arnold Daley, Jr., USAFR (Ret) died on 25 December 2017
in a hospital in Dallas, Texas while battling a recurrent case of
throat cancer. Bob grew up in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. His parents
purchased a house within 100 yards of the St. Theresa-Avila Catholic
Church, where Bob served as an altar boy for many years. He graduated
from the prestigious Boston Latin School in 1964 and earned his
Aviation Merit Badge on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. This
early experience through scouting turned him onto the idea of becoming
a pilot. After earning their Eagle Scout ranks, a fellow altar boy
and Bob were invited to meet with General Robert McDermott at the
general's home in West Roxbury. General "Mac" told Bob
and his friend that they would both be appointed to the Air Force
Academy without having to go through the normal application process.
To accomplish this, General Mac convinced Senator Ted Kennedy to
send in the nominations--Bob readily accepted, but his friend declined.
While at the Academy, Bob was a member of 6th Squadron and Blackjack
(21st Squadron), where his legend took off as one of the Academy's
most spirited rascals. In one infamous spirit mission, Bob was faced
with the challenge of moving a chained-down F-106 parked on the
terrazzo. It seems that the Academy's hierarchy was tired of prior
spirit missions that moved the aircraft when it was untethered and
believed by chaining it down that these missions would come to an
immediate and inglorious end. Clearly, the Commandant did not understand
the ingenuity and determination of one each Cadet Daley, who managed
to get a welding torch and helmet and some fellow cadets to hold
a tarp over him late one night while he cut through the chains.
As a result of his efforts, the F-106 found a new parking space
on the Academy for the next day. If anyone remembers the Bell X-1
ending up on top of Arnold Hall leading up to the Class of 1968's
graduation, that was Bob's project, as well. He was incredibly close
to his 21st Squadron AOC, Major Jack Espenshied, who was killed
in Vietnam after Bob graduated, and was instrumental in establishing
the Espenshied Award that is given annually to the most outstanding
graduate of Blackjack Squadron. Upon graduation from USAFA, he went
to pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas and flew C-130s out of Langley
AFB. He transferred from active duty to the USAF Reserves, moved
to Dallas, and was among the initial cadre of pilots for the nascent
Southwest Airlines in the early 1970s. Upon his retirement from
the airlines, he was the 5th ranking pilot at Southwest. Bob served
as a consummate font of knowledge about C-130 aircraft and could
tell you the status, by tail number, of every Hercules ever built.
He also kept track of his classmates from Blackjack and his pilot
training class and was pivotal in providing essential contact information
for a myriad of Blackjack and pilot training class reunions spanning
a period of nearly 50 years. He was buried with military honors
at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on 5 January 2018
with his wife, Mercedes, other family members, friends, and high
school and USAFA classmates in attendance. A memorial marker in
Bob's honor will be placed at the USAFA cemetery at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to Mercedes Daley at 5965 Royal Crest, Dallas,
TX 75230. Bob will be missed by all of us who were touched by his
generosity, love, and friendship. May God bless Mercedes and his
family with warm memories of our dear friend and comrade-in-arms.
Lt
Col Robert Arnold Daley, Jr., USAFR (Ret) died on 25 December 2017
in a hospital in Dallas, Texas while battling a recurrent case of
throat cancer. Bob grew up in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. His parents
purchased a house within 100 yards of the St. Theresa-Avila Catholic
Church, where Bob served as an altar boy for many years. He graduated
from the prestigious Boston Latin School in 1964 and earned his
Aviation Merit Badge on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. This
early experience through scouting turned him onto the idea of becoming
a pilot. After earning their Eagle Scout ranks, a fellow altar boy
and Bob were invited to meet with General Robert McDermott at the
general's home in West Roxbury. General "Mac" told Bob
and his friend that they would both be appointed to the Air Force
Academy without having to go through the normal application process.
To accomplish this, General Mac convinced Senator Ted Kennedy to
send in the nominations--Bob readily accepted, but his friend declined.
While at the Academy, Bob was a member of 6th Squadron and Blackjack
(21st Squadron), where his legend took off as one of the Academy's
most spirited rascals. In one infamous spirit mission, Bob was faced
with the challenge of moving a chained-down F-106 parked on the
terrazzo. It seems that the Academy's hierarchy was tired of prior
spirit missions that moved the aircraft when it was untethered and
believed by chaining it down that these missions would come to an
immediate and inglorious end. Clearly, the Commandant did not understand
the ingenuity and determination of one each Cadet Daley, who managed
to get a welding torch and helmet and some fellow cadets to hold
a tarp over him late one night while he cut through the chains.
As a result of his efforts, the F-106 found a new parking space
on the Academy for the next day. If anyone remembers the Bell X-1
ending up on top of Arnold Hall leading up to the Class of 1968's
graduation, that was Bob's project, as well. He was incredibly close
to his 21st Squadron AOC, Major Jack Espenshied, who was killed
in Vietnam after Bob graduated, and was instrumental in establishing
the Espenshied Award that is given annually to the most outstanding
graduate of Blackjack Squadron. Upon graduation from USAFA, he went
to pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas and flew C-130s out of Langley
AFB. He transferred from active duty to the USAF Reserves, moved
to Dallas, and was among the initial cadre of pilots for the nascent
Southwest Airlines in the early 1970s. Upon his retirement from
the airlines, he was the 5th ranking pilot at Southwest. Bob served
as a consummate font of knowledge about C-130 aircraft and could
tell you the status, by tail number, of every Hercules ever built.
He also kept track of his classmates from Blackjack and his pilot
training class and was pivotal in providing essential contact information
for a myriad of Blackjack and pilot training class reunions spanning
a period of nearly 50 years. He was buried with military honors
at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on 5 January 2018
with his wife, Mercedes, other family members, friends, and high
school and USAFA classmates in attendance. A memorial marker in
Bob's honor will be placed at the USAFA cemetery at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to Mercedes Daley at 5965 Royal Crest, Dallas,
TX 75230. Bob will be missed by all of us who were touched by his
generosity, love, and friendship. May God bless Mercedes and his
family with warm memories of our dear friend and comrade-in-arms.