 |
Flying Tiger Line Pilots Association In Memoriam...
Robert E. Hawes We need to find information or pictures from fellow pilots or their family about this person. Email it to webmaster FTLPA
|
|
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Robert Edmond Hawes, 87, of San Mateo and Westport,
Mass., died at home Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006. He was the widower of Mildred
(Von Protz) Hawes. Born in Dartmouth, Mass., he was the son of the late
Roy T. and Philinda (Mosher) Hawes. He graduated from Dartmouth High
School in 1936. He graduated in 1940 from Norwich University in Vermont
with a degree in electrical engineering and diplomas from the cavalry,
pilot and officer's training programs there. Army Air Corps Lt. Hawes
boarded a ship to Hawaii in April 1941, where he met 2nd Lt. Army Nurse
Mildred Von Protz of Monterey. They married in 1942 and were together
almost 52 years. He lived in the same home in San Mateo for almost 51
years since he was stationed as a pilot at the San Francisco airport.
Lt. and Mrs. Hawes were on duty in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. He was
wounded when a bomb prevented him from reaching his plane on Hickam Air
Field next to Pearl Harbor during the attack. He fought in the Battle of
Midway and was a Flying Fortress Squadron commander in the South
Pacific. He was decorated for heroism during the war, earning the
Distinguished Flying Cross with seven oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal
with two oak leaf clusters and at least three citations for gallantry.
He refused multiple Purple Hearts. Immediately after the war, he was
base commander at Hilo, Hawaii. He retired from the military as a
colonel in 1946. Living in South Dartmouth, Mass., he worked for a while
in his family's business, Hawes Electric in New Bedford, Mass. He
co-founded Massachusetts Airlines, which began service in January 1949
from New Bedford, Boston and the Islands. He sold his interest in 1950
and went to work for Flying Tiger Lines as a pilot for more than 28
years until mandatory retirement on his 60th birthday in 1978. He
received a citation from President Johnson in 1964 commending him for
the number of civilian missions he flew into Vietnam. Those missions
continued until 1972. In more than 42 years as a pilot, including more
than 350 bombing and numerous missions during World War II, no man or
plane under his command was lost. After retiring from flying, he lived
his passion for the outdoors. Since 1968, he enjoyed growing hay and
raising horses on his farm in Half Moon Bay, which he continued to visit
until shortly before his death. Through 2005, he also enjoyed his annual
visits to his family's summer home in Westport, Mass., watching the
farming and fishing and boating on the Westport River. He battled
Parkinson's disease since the early 1990s. Thanks to superb caregivers,
he remained active to the end. Survivors include two daughters, Valerie
L. Hawes of Half Moon Bay and Barbara Hawes Caldwell of San Mateo, a
grandson; a brother, Philip M. Hawes of New Bedford; and a sister,
Marjorie E. Hall of New Bedford. There are no services. Arrangements
were by the Neptune Society, Belmont.
[../_disc2007/_borders/06_aftr.htm]
|