Melbourne - Ralph Douglas (Doug) Steakley, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret) died on Sunday, June 14, 2009. Doug was born June 13,1919 in Columbus, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Maryville College in 1941. Upon graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps. Commissioned a 2nd Lt. in January 1942, he trained on B-17s, but was selected as the Aircraft Commander of a B-29 adapted for photo reconnaissance. Assigned to Saipon on November 1, 1944, he flew the first air plane, "Tokyo Rose", over Tokyo, since the Doolittle raids in 1942, photographing potential targets for bombing by the B-29s. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission. Other missions over Japan included recon flights over Hiroshima and Nagazaki before and after the nuclear bombings. From 1945 to 1947, he was a pilot for Pan American Airlines. Recalled to active duty in 1947 by the newly formed U.S. Air Force, he became the reconnaissance expert, which led to a succession of assignments and promotions. As Deputy Director for Recon naissance, J-3 of the Joint Staff, he was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Pueblo Incident, and the attack on the Liberty. Medals received were the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Joint Chief of Staff Service Badge. Retiring from the Air Force in 1970, he joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation as Assistant to the General Manager of the Oceanic Division and Manager, Special Programs Division until 1985. He was a Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America, a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, and the Order of the Daedalians. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Mary Wilson Huggins of Melbourne, FL; sons, Douglas Steakley, Jr. (wife, Jackie; daughter, Nicole) of Carmel Valley, CA, James Steakley of Madison, WI, and Bruce Steakley (wife, Caryn and daughter, Emily) of McLean, VA; brother, Wiley Steakley of Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on September 30, 2009.
Published in the Florida Today Newspaper.