Gone West, Col Robert "Deke" Hall, F-84, U-2, F-4

[Ken]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oanow/ ... =137465011

I was privileged to meet and get to know Deke as a student at Auburn in the late 80's. He taught a number of courses in aviation and much of the foundation of what I know today about weather, Air Traffic Control, instrument flying, and how an officer and pilot should conduct himself, I attribute to him.

Deke was tall and slim and always wore cowboy boots. He had an easy smile, wavy grey hair and the makings of a handlebar moustache that always made me think he could have been a 50's film star. In addition, there are few pilots left who could tell a story like Deke. As he related this flight or that, his hands would fly about and his silver USAF pilot wings bracelet would jingle and jangle to emphasize the tale. Most of us begged to hear more U-2 stories, as he was in the cadre of pilots who flew with Gary Powers and Rudolph Anderson (lost over Cuba in '62). No matter the dire outcome, he was always able to weave humility and humor into the story. I have since read some of these stories repeated in "50 Years of the U-2" by Chris Pocock, but I will never forget the times I heard them first hand.

As an Auburn senior, I had a few hours of elective time to complete and I was told to report to Deke to learn what I could do to earn the hours. (As an aside, no student ever called him Deke. Despite his easy-going nature, he always said, feel free to call me by my first name ... "Colonel!".) Hoping that I'd be in Air Force pilot training the next year, I asked him if would teach me about instrument flying. His reply was, "No, I won't teach you instruments - you will teach ME instruments". He handed me a few texts and had me devise a multi-week syllabus where I would research a topic and present a lesson to him, one-on-one. Of course, once I was finished talking, Deke would take over and the lesson would really begin.

After I left Auburn, I never saw Deke again. I'd occasionally bump into someone who'd seen him and heard that he'd retired to the beach near Pensacola. One day I was saddened to hear that he'd suffered a fall and was paralyzed. A number of times I said that I'd go look him up to visit and thank him for all his help and encouragement. I sincerely regret that I never made the trip.

We joked during one of my instrument sessions about his legal title of "Aviation Expert" ... as he had been recently asked to appear as a consultant in a court case. I played along and asked for his autograph -- the only paper handy was the cardstock "this hat belongs to" label inside my USAF cadet wheel cap. I slid it out and, on the back, he inscribed "Col Robert E. "Deke" Hall, USAF ret.; Aviation Expert". I will treasure it always.

Blue skies, Deke! You will be missed.

Ken

[Robbie Stuart]

Dam sorry to hear the loss of such a fine aviator. Godspeed to you Deke, & THANKS for your service sir.
With Regards
Robbie Stuart

[Ken]

RET. COL. ROBERT "DEKE" HALL His last solo flight-Ret. Col. Robert "Deke" Hall, 80, died Tuesday, December 8, 2009, resting peacefully in his home, of complications due to a spinal injury suffered during a fall in 1996. He leaves his wife of 16 years, Jane Hall: his children, Holly Hall Mayfield and her husband Rick Mayfield, London UK, Sandi Hall McMichael and her husband Bill McMichael, Birmingham, Al, Penny Presson and her husband Bryan Presson, Clinton, MS, Randi Hayslip and his wife Lucy Hayslip, Parkland, Fl. He also leaves behind 8 grandchildren; Brooke and Rob McGibboney, Christy and Haley Mayfield, Timothy Presson and Kristi James, Matt and Nadia Hayslip; one great-grandchild, Cole James, and many close friends. He is predeceased by his wife Sara "Sally" Froman Hall, November 1991 and his son, Robert "Skip" Hall, November 1979. Born and raised in Illinois, the son of a Methodist minister and State Representative Rev. Clarence and Marion Hall, he spent the last 20 years as a resident of Perdido Key, Fl. Col. "Deke" Hall entered the Air Force in 1951 and received his pilot training at Webb AFB, Texas and following flight school he served in the Korean War. Col. Hall graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1958 and by 1961 "The Deacon" was already a veteran of many covert aerial reconnaissance missions as one of the specialized U2 Pilots stationed at Laughlin AFB Texas, Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona and finally Edwards AFB California. In 1967 he moved his family to Taiwan where he was involved with an exclusive CIA Detachment and the Republic of China Air Force's "Black Cat" U2 pilot program. Following Taiwan, he served with the 47TFS at Mac Dill AFB Florida, and then from 1971- 1972 he served as Wing, Vice Commander at Phu Cat AB in Vietnam and Director of Operations, 7/13 AF, Udorn, RTAFB. In 1972, he returned to Maxwell AFB Alabama as Vice Commandant, Squadron Officer School. He finished his career in the USAF as Detachment Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama and as a career role model to many Auburn ROTC graduates. His career awards are many, they include the Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 OLC; Air Medal w/4 OLC; Distinguished Unit Citation; and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Col. Hall was proud of the fact that he held a Bachelor's Degree from University of Illinois "51" where he played basketball as a "Fighting Illini" and a Master of Science in Political Science from Auburn University '70". He spent his retired years with AOPA, flying across the country teaching weekend courses. He especially liked the weather course where he could use examples of his own experiences as a pilot and entertain the group with vivid stories of bail-outs and close landingshe always enjoyed a captive audience. Deke, whose own credits - both as an Air Force Pilot and as a true gentleman, were lengthy and notable, he was one of those rare individuals who combined a love of country with a love of life. His stories live on in the hearts of his children and friends and he made a difference with his life of service to his country and family. The Colonel requested that contributions may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarrriorproject.org or 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 A quiet family service will be held on December 21, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama with a memorial to follow in March in Pensacola, Florida at the Pensacola Naval Station Chapel.

[holledayz]

I just want to thank you for this heartfelt article. I only wish that I could forward it to my Dad! He would have been so proud to know that he influenced you in such a positive way. I am sure our paths have crossed as I was in Angel Flight at Auburn while you were instructing the "Col" in instruments.
Cheers from London,
Deke's daughter.....Holly

[Ken]

Wish he could have seen the recently restored straight-wing F-84 put on display at NMUSAF in Dayton. I don't know which squadron he served in during the Korean War - wonder if there is an easy way to find out ...