DAUGHTREY, ROBERT NORLAN rip 07/20/2005
Name: Robert Norlan Daughtrey Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O3 Unit: 12th TFS Date of Birth: 05 October 1933 Home City of Record: Del Rio TX Date of Loss: 02 August 1965 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 194800 North 1054900 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105 Missions: 15 missions Other Personnel in Incident: none Refno:
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: 730212 RELEASED BY DRV INJURED
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors).
ROBERT N. DAUGHTREY Major - United States Air Force, pilot Shot down: August 2, 1965 Released: February 12, 1973
Robert Daughtrey returned home from North Vietnam to a cheering crowd and a thrilled wife, Sandra, and three children Jim 13 Sharon, 12 and Wade 10. About 200 school children and the 27th Cadet Squadron from the Air Force Academy watched as he disembarked from the plane piloted by General Albert P. Clark Superintendent of the Academy. On his return he said "I am grateful to those who worked so diligently so the POWs were not forgotten."
As he stood with a brace on his right arm he said "I like the clothing styles, but I haven't made up my mind about the long hair." Both his arms were broken when he ejected from his crippled F-105 on August 2 1965. In less than two months after his capture, the North Vietnamese were using his picture for propaganda purposes around the world.
Major Daughtrey was a native of Del Rio Texas. He attended Texas A & M, but left after his sophomore year to earn a commission in the Air Force. Since there is question whether he will be able to fly again. He hopes to return to school to get his degree in mathematics.
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Airman Magazine did an article on Maj Daughtrey in September 1999. The article can be accessed at their website: http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0999/fredom.htm
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Robert Daughrey retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He had remarried and he and his wife Vickie resided in New Mexico until his death on July 20, 2005 and her death 2 months later.
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Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 12:49:06 -0400 Subject: Final Flight - Norlan Daughtrey
Norlan Daughtrey was buried with special military honors at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Memorial services were rendered in Albuquerque with noted speakers from his pilot training class 55-Q, BG James Womack (Ret) of the NM Air Natl Guard years, Vietnam POW Congressman Sam Johnson and BG William Strand (Ret). There were many veteran's and friends in attendance. The New Mexico Air National Guard (F-16's) made an impressive Missing Man Formation Fly-By at the burial ceremony. What follows is an article from the Albuquerque Journal regarding the fly-by over the cemetery near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
John Revak
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Albuquerque Journal, July 31, 2005 By Laura Banish
Santa Fe -- A fly-by to honor a veteran caught some Santa Fe residents by surprise, prompting several to call officials at City Hall. Four F-16 fighter jets made a special fly-by over Santa Fe National Cemetery on Friday, performing the "missing man formation" to honor veteran pilot and prisoner of war Robert Norlan Daughtrey. Daughtrey, 71 of Albuquerque, died July 20 after a brief illness. Several calls were made to the Santa Fe city manager's office, municipal airport and Public Works Department regarding the F-16s following the 3 PM burial service, according to city officials. Local residents Kingsley and Jerilou Hammett were startled by the sight and sound of the low flying jets and the fly-by "terrorizing". "If it's a tribute, it's very nice, but they really should have notified people," Jerilou Hammett said. "People were scared. We thought we were under attack."
Daughtrey's son, Maj. Wade Daughtrey, a pilot in the New Mexico Air National Guard requested the fly-by, which was one of 100 exemption requests received by the Pentagon since 1995, according to National Guard Maj. Kimberly Lalley.
The honor of having military aircraft perform the tribute is generally only bestowed on high-ranking retired military personnel, such as three and four-star generals and aces or those who have received special distinctions such as the Medal Of Honor, Lalley said. Of the 100 requests received, she said 34 were approved, including seven for prisoners of war. Daughtrey, a POW in Vietnam for more than seven years, was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Silver Star and Legion Of Merit, according to an obituary provided by the funeral home handling his arrangements.
Daughtrey began his military career upon graduating from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1951. After attending Texas A&M University, he became a fighter pilot, flying F-102's with the Texas Air National Guard, F-100's with New Mexico Air National Guard and F-105's with the U.S. Air Force.
In 1965, his F-105 was shot down, and Daughtrey was captured in North Vietnam. He remained a prisoner of war until 1973. When Daughtrey, a native of Texas, returned to the United States, he moved to New Mexico, where he continued his education at the University of New Mexico and later worked as a federal contractor. Daughtrey retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. The fly-by was made by the 150th Fighter Wing out of Albuquerque, also known as the "Taco's". The late veteran's son Wade is a member, Lalley said.