Robert Alban Joseph McCauley, 97, passed away on 15 February, 2021 in Anacortes WA. He was born at the Stetson Hospital in Philadelphia, PA to Chief Water Tender John Joseph and Martha (nee Geier) McCauley.

He was raised in a rowhouse in Philadelphia with his brother, Jack. He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in June of 1942. He signed up for the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program, took the written test and physical exam and was told to go home and wait. 

In January of 1943, Bob embarked on his aviation career. He went to various schools across the country and on 5 April 1943, he took his first flight. More schooling followed and on 1 October 1943, he was commissioned as a 2nd LT, with his mother pinning on his wings.

On 8 February 1944, he and his new B-17 crew took off for the European Theater, where they were assigned to the 563rd Bomb Squadron, 3988th Bomb Group, 45th CBW, 3rd Bomb Division, 8th Air Force. His airbase was Station 136 (RAF Knettishall) located in Suffolk, England. Bob flew 31 combat missions, but feeling he was pushing his luck, he volunteered for the Aphrodite Project, which would count as multiple missions toward his required total. His pilot, Richard Lindahl, also volunteered but was killed bailing out of his aircraft. Bob flew his mission with Glen "Red Barnes" in the B-17 called "Mugwump". They bailed out over England and Mugwump was directed by the mothership. Unfortunately, Mugwump failed to respond to the instructions from the mothership, took a left turn, headed for Sweden, where it finally crashed at Tollhattan, Sweden. They still celebrate this event every 30 October. That one mission earned Bob and Glen the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Bob tried to get assigned to P-51 and Mosquito recon squadrons but to no avail. He then volunteered for the Pacific Theater and was in training for the B-26 aircraft when the war came to an end. He was then sent back to Europe and was involved in Operation Overcast/Paperclip (German secrets), the Casey Jones Project (photomapping of Europe), Operation Ice Breaker (protecting unarmed cargo aircraft along the Austria/Italy/Yugoslavia border) and the Berlin Airlift. 

Bob returned to the US, living, taking college courses and working in NYC. He signed up with the New York State Air Guard and flew B-26s out of Floyd Bennett Field. He was recalled to active duty for the Korean war, and after training in the B-29 bomber, sent to Okinawa. He was assigned to the 28th BS, 19th BG and flew 26 combat missions. He tried again to get assigned to a P-51 squadron but ended up assigned to the 3rd Air Force Rescue Group. 

On his return to the US (March 1953), he was assigned to the 509th Fighter Bomber Squadron in Langley, VA. During his time with the 509th, he participated in Operation Teapot, the nuclear testing done in Nevada. He participated in two nuclear detonations, on the same day. They were Shot APPLE 1 and Shot WASP PRIME. After the 509th, Bob was in France, back to Virginia and then to Diyarbakir, Turkey. 

He came from Turkey, assigned to an Air Commando squadron in Florida. After 23 years of active and reserve duty, Bob retired in March 1966 as a USAF Major with 23 years of active and reserve service. But his flying career did not end. He applied and was accepted to fly for Air America in South Vietnam. He flew for them for 6 years, leaving in 1973.

He returned to the family home in Oak Harbor WA, where he went to work for several years at a printed circuit board manufacturing company. He also took up letter writing, lots and lots of letters, to the editor of the local newspaper. Bob had opinions and he wanted to share them. His letters did help a local organization, SWIFT, save wildland near the ferry at Coupeville WA. It is now a state park.

Bob is survived by his 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers and a grandchild. He was married twice and divorced twice.

Hawthorne Funeral Home obituary via Legacy.com