More detail on this person: Warren T. (Bob)
Lilly is one of us. A quick background. His early
helicopter years were in SAC in the missile site
business flying H-19's. As missions in the Major
Commands moved around Bob was picked up by
ARRS. He was as I remember the Chief Pilot in
Phase Three testing of the H-3 in 1964 and 65 at
Tyndall. Due to circumstances he was out of the
flying game early and maybe not to many know
him outside of the Jolly world except old timers.
He deployed with the first group of JG's (Baylor's
bunch) and he as the IP and Jerry Singleton as the
CP--AC in training were shot down and bailed out
6 Nov 65 in North Vietnam. They and the PJ (Art
Cormier) spent seven and a half years as POW's
and came back with Honor. I think the rest of
Bob's career was in Air University. Anyway, a
good friend, a True Warrior and Soldier, tough as
nails is fighting his last battle. God be with
him.
From: Barry Kamhoot
Bob Lilly was born on August 17, 1933, in Dallas,
Texas. He was commissioned a 2d Lt through the
Air Force ROTC program at the University of Texas
on January 30, 1956, and completed Undergraduate
Pilot Training in May 1957. Lt Lilly next went
through Helicopter Pilot Training at Randolph AFB,
Texas, and graduated in October 1957. He flew with
the 551st Operations Squadron at Otis AFB,
Massachusetts, from October 1957 to April 1959.
His next assignment was with the 22nd Helicopter
Squadron and then the 4082nd Operations
Squadron at Goose AB, Labrador, from April 1959
to March 1960. Lilly flew with the 28th Operations
Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, from
March 1960 to October 1961, and then with the
Western Air Rescue Center at Glasgow AFB,
Montana, from October 1961 to August 1964. He
next flew CH-3's with the Environmental Awareness
Research Center at Patrick AFB, Florida, from
August 1964 to October 1965, when he went to
Southeast Asia. Lilly began flying combat missions
out of Udorn AB, Thailand, in October 1965, and he
was shot down over North Vietnam and taken as a
Prisoner of War on November 6, 1965. After
spending 2,655 days in captivity, Colonel Lilly
was released during Operation Homecoming on
February 12, 1973. After repatriation, he served
as a Liaison Officer at Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio. His final assignment was at Squadron Officer
School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, where he retired
from the Air Force on November 30, 1980. Bob Lilly
died on October 12, 2007, and was buried at the
Alabama Heritage Cemetery in Montgomery,
Alabama.
His 1st (of 3) Silver Star Citation reads:
Captain Warren R. Lilly distinguished himself by
gallantry in connection with military operations
against an opposing armed force as Aircraft
Commander over North Vietnam on 6 November
1965. On that date, Captain Lilly displayed an
outstanding degree of courage and devotion to duty
as he voluntarily flew an unarmed and extremely
vulnerable rescue aircraft into a hostile area
known to contain numerous concentrations of heavy
antiaircraft weapons in a valiant attempt to
rescue a downed USAF pilot. As he entered the
recovery area, Captain Lilly's aircraft
encountered heavy ground fire and burst into
flames, causing him and his crew members to bail
out over hostile territory. By his gallantry and
devotion to duty, Captain Lilly has reflected
great credit upon himself and the United States
Air Force.
From:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?r
ecordID=74
This information was last updated 03/25/2021
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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