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MSGT, USAF
F-101B CREW CHIEF GROOM LAKE, NEVADA
June 13, 1933 - September 3, 2017
Graduated from Oak Hill High School, Oak Hill, Ohio in May 1950 and attended Ohio University for one semester.
Entered the USAF in February 1951 and assigned to basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. After basic training, was assigned to A&E (aircraft mechanic) School at Sheppard AFB, Texas and was later transferred to Randolph AFB, Texas.
From Randolph AFB, was transferred to Tyndall AFB, Florida as crew chief on P-51D and P-51H aircraft.
Transferred to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and later to the 51st Field Maintenance Squadron at Naha, Okinawa.
Transferred to Griffith AFB, New York as crew chief on F-94C, F-89, F-102, and F-101B aircraft.
In November 1962, volunteered to CIA Project OXCART and was selected in January 1963 for assignment to 1129th SAS in Las Vegas, Nevada as crew chief on the F-101B VooDoo plane providing support for the Top Secret A-12 Blackbird Mach 3+ surveillance plane at Groom Lake. Served two TDY tours at Kadena as crew chief on the F-101B during the operation phase of Project OXCART, Operation BLACKSHIELD, flying CIA surveillance missions over North Korea and North Vietnam.
In 1969, was assigned to Bitburg AFB, West Germany.
Retired from the USAF in June 1971.
After retirement, was hired in April 1972 as a civilian security guard at Area 51. Retired in February 1980 after 22 years, 10 months and 7 days at Area 51. Since Area 51 was turned over to the USAF, it was time to explore other opportunities.
In March 1980, was hired by Lockheed Aircraft Company (Skunk Works) as a supervisor in Quality Assurance for F-117A (flight test).
Retired from Lockheed in June 1990.
The Roadrunners are saddened to announce that MSGT Robert "Bob" Donley Hughes, USAF Ret took his final flight on Sept. 3, 2017 at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Bob was the only son born on June 13, 1933 to Robert and Naomi Donley Hughes. He graduated from Oak Hill High School, Oak Hill, Ohio in May 1950 and attended Ohio University for one semester.
He entered the USAF in February 1951 and was assigned to basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. After basic training, he was assigned to A&E (aircraft mechanic) School at Sheppard AFB, Texas and was later transferred to Randolph AFB, Texas. From Randolph AFB, was transferred to Tyndall AFB, Florida as crew chief in P-51D and P-51H aircraft.
Bob served at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and later to the 51st Field Maintenance Squadron at Naha, Okinawa before transferring to Griffith AFB, New York as crew chief on F-94C, F-89, F-102, and F-101B aircraft.
In November 1962, Bob volunteered to CIA Project OXCART and was selected in January 1963 for assignment to 1129th SAS in Las Vegas, Nevada as crew chief on the F-101B VooDoo plane providing support for the Top Secret A-12 Blackbird Mach 3+ surveillance plane at Groom Lake. He served two TDY tours at Kadena as crew chief on the F-101B during the operation phase of Project OXCART, Operation BLACKSHIELD, flying CIA surveillance missions over North Korea and North Vietnam.In 1969, he was assigned to Bitburg AFB, West Germany, and retired from the USAF in June 1971.
After retirement, Bob was hired in April 1972 as a civilian security guard at Area 51. He retired in February 1980 after 22 years, 10 months and 7 days at Area 51.
In March 1980, was hired by Lockheed Aircraft Company (Skunk Works) as a supervisor in Quality Assurance for F-117A (flight test). He retired from Lockheed in June 1990.
Thank you for your service, Bob. You will not be forgotten.
Today the Roadrunners of Groom Lake sadly experienced another void within the ranks of their deminishing family. JD Hughes, 55, 
wife of Roadrunner Bob Hughes, crewchief of the CIA's A-12 spyplane during Project Oxcart at Area 51, lost her long fought battle with cancer. She had been under hospice care in Las Vegas, Nevada for the past week. She is survived by her husband, Robert D. and daughter, Lorinda M. Fowler of Las Vegas. Services will be private. Donations can be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, 4131 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.
JD was honored last year at the 35th Annual Clark County Mother of Honor Awards Program where she was presented the prestigious Inspirational Clark County Mother of Honor Award at the Gold Coast Hotel in Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman provided the official greeting and Paula Francis was the Awards Emcee. Linda Fowler, daughter of J. D. Hughes, submitted her mother for the award and wrote "A Dedication to J.D. Hughes, Mother of the Year 2005" that can be found at this Member News link.
J.D. was a regular at our Roadrunner reunions and will be missed by all.
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