Robert F 'Bob' Dorr -September 11, 1939 - June 12, 2016

By Pete Ward      

Courtesy of Osprey Publishing Oxford, United Kingdom | 15 June 2016 

With the passing of Robert F ‘Bob’ Dorr on 12 June 2016, Osprey has lost one of its most accomplished authors. He was given his first book commissions by the company in the 1980s whilst serving as a Foreign Service Officer in the US Embassy in London, Bob writing more than half of the titles that appeared in the company’s landmark Air Combat series. He also regularly wrote books in the famous Colour Series during this period and into the 1990s, working closely with Osprey aviation editor Dennis Baldry. Bob’s style was very personable, reflecting the numerous contacts he had within the US armed forces and particularly the USAF.

Aside from his work for Osprey (which included five titles in the long-running Combat Aircraft series on two of his favourite USAAF ‘heavies’, namely the B-24 and the B-29), Bob was widely published in aviation and military journals. Indeed, his opinion columns in Military Times, Combat Aircraft and Air Power History were compulsory reading for those either in the armed forces or interested in modern airpower. One of life’s outstanding characters, the author of more than 70 books, hundreds of fictional action stories and countless articles on aviation, Bob Dorr will be sorely missed.

Dennis Baldry, Bob’s first editor at Osprey, had this to say:

I said my final goodbye to Bob via email earlier this year. Quite the most heartbreaking I've ever sent, knowing that I would never receive a reply. He does, of course, leave a brilliant body of work. His place among the all-time greats of aviation writing is assured. I'm still enormously proud of the fact that I happened to be the editor who published his first aviation book. As you know, there was actually little or nothing to edit. His manuscripts were word perfect and a joy to read. I don’t think Bob ever quite forgave me for publishing a separate book on the UK Phantom. And I think he had a point!

 

 

From the Washington Post, July 3, 2016

Robert F. Dorr, author of military histories, dies at 76

By Bart Barnes

The Washington Post © | July 3, 2016 

Robert F. Dorr, an author and former Foreign Service officer who wrote hundreds of books, newspaper and magazine articles on military aircraft, battles and history, died June 12 at a hospital in Falls Church, Va. He was 76.

The cause was a brain tumor, said a son, Robert P. Dorr.

From 1964 to 1989, Mr. Dorr was in the Foreign Service, mainly as a political officer, and his assignments included South Korea, Madagascar, Japan, Sweden, London and Liberia.

In retirement, he wrote books on topics ranging from World War II history to more recent military missions to novels and adventure stories. His 1991 volume about the Persian Gulf War, “Desert Shield: The Buildup, the Complete Story,” reportedly sold 100,000 copies.

Mr. Dorr was a columnist for Air Force Times and other military publications and often was a “sympathetic voice for enlisted airmen,” said Kathleen Curthoys, a presentation editor at Military Times.

Robert Francis Dorr was born in Washington on Sept. 11, 1939. He grew up near Bolling Air Force Base and since childhood was fascinated by airplanes. With money he earned from a paper route, he bought an Underwood typewriter and began writing stories when he was 12.

As a student at Suitland High School in Prince George’s County, Md., Mr. Dorr began his writing career with an unsolicited article in Air Force Magazine arguing that bombers in the Strategic Air Command needed fighter aircraft escorts, the Air Force Times said in an obituary.

After high school graduation in 1957, Mr. Dorr served four years in the Air Force, stationed mostly in Korea. Having learned the language, he eavesdropped on North Korean communications. He later settled in San Francisco, attended the University of California at Berkeley and began writing adventure stories for pulp fiction magazines.

In 1968 he married a Korean national, Young Soon Cho, and they later settled in Oakton, Va. Besides his wife, survivors include two sons, Robert P. Dorr of Arlington, Va., and Lawrence G. Dorr III of Trinity, Fla.; a brother; and three grandchildren.

The last magazine article

The Avenger torpedo bomber is the subject of my last-ever magazine article among thousands that have appeared under my byline since 1955.

The article will be in the June issue of America in WWII magazine. This is a great magazine to work for, with great editors.

It's fitting. I belong to the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, which operates a TBM-3E Avenger (Doris Mae TBM Facebook Profile.)

Last of Many Articles

Since 1955, I've published 80 books, 6,000 magazine articles and 3,000 newspaper columns, mostly about the Air Force. I've enjoyed sixty "straight" years of writing about the Air Force and aviation (interrupted only partially by a 25-year stint as a Foreign Service officer.)

No one ever had a greater privilege than to write about Americans who fly and fight.  I've donated my archives and some cash to charities that I support, including the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum and the Commemorative Air Force. These groups honor veterans, educate young Americans and inspire the public.

My Tumor

In October 2015, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as a Glioblastoma Multiforme.

This type of tumor is always fatal. Life expectancy generally runs from three to fifteen months.

I had brain surgery December 2 and completed radiation and chemo February 25. In April, I completed my fourth round of chemo; one that requires taking pills for one full week each month. I continue to take monthly rounds of chemo.

Now May, eight months in, I continue to lose my ability to type on a keyboard. I can still talk easily though. Please don't hesitate to call me at (703) 264-8950.  I am suffering no discomfort and am in great spirits. I am enjoying the time connecting with friends and family, and most of all taking advantage of the occasional free lunch or milkshake.

Hope you like this article about a great World War II aircraft.

Bob


(703) 264-8950

Robert F. Dorr
3411 Valewood Drive
Oakton VA 22124
robert.f.dorr@cox.net

Update: Flying and Writing

Here's an update.

I've flown aboard 128 different aircraft types. They include restored World War II aircraft like the P-51 Mustang, SB2C-5 Helldiver and B-25 Mitchell. I've also flown the F-15E Strike Eagle, the B-52H Stratofortress and the B-1B Lancer. I have a record of every time I've been off the ground in an aircraft, including every commercial airline flight I've ever taken.

My penultimate fight was with Jack Molenear in his Stearman N-2B, or PT-17, at Culpeper on August 2, 2014.

My last flight was on May 12 2015, in "Fifi", the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress. Thanks, Mark Novak, Al Benzing and John Schauer.

Since 1955, I've published 80 books, 6,000 magazine articles and 3,000 newspaper columns, mostly about the Air Force. I've enjoyed sixty "straight" years of writing about the Air Force and aviation (interrupted only partially by a 25-year stint as a Foreign Service officer.) No one ever had a greater privilege than to write about Americans who fly and fight. I've donated my archives and some cash to charities that I support, including the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). These groups honor veterans, educate young Americans and inspire the public.

Flying and writing days

For now I'm a bystander.

In October 2015, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as a Glioblastoma Multiforme. 

This type of tumor is always fatal. Life expectancy generally runs from three to fifteen months.

At the start of May, eight months in, I continue to lose my ability to type on a keyboard. I can still talk easily though. Please don't hesitate to call me at (703) 264-8950.

My speech is intact. I am suffering no discomfort and am in great spirits. I am enjoying the time connecting with friends and family, and most of all taking advantage of the occasional free lunch or milkshake.

I had brain surgery December 2 and completed radiation and chemo February 25. In April, I will be in my fourth round of chemo; one that requires taking pills for one full week each month.

Books
My most popular book is "AIR POWER ABANDONED," the story of the F-22 Raptor, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General T. Michael Moseley, and Gates's firing of the Air Force leadership.

Price per book when ordered from me is $22. All proceeds are donated to the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a 501(c)(3) charity. And, yes, it's on Kindle, too.
Bob

(703) 264-8950

Robert F. Dorr

3411 Valewood Drive

Oakton VA 22124

robert.f.dorr@cox.net

April 16, 2016 Update (Bob Dorr)

Here's an update.

As of mid-April, I continue to lose my ability to type on a keyboard. I can still talk. My speech is mostly intact and I encourage friends to call me at (703) 264-8950. I am suffering no discomfort and am in great spirits. I am enjoying the time connecting with friends and family, and most of all taking advantage of the occasional free lunch or milkshake.

In October, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as a Glioblastoma Multiforme.

This type of tumor is always fatal. Life expectancy generally runs from three to fifteen months.

I had brain surgery December 2 and completed radiation and chemo February 25. In April, I will be in my fourth round of chemo; one that requires taking pills for one full week each month.

Other than losing the ability to type on a keyboard, I've experienced no discomfort, pain, or side effects.

Books
My most popular book is "AIR POWER ABANDONED," the story of the F-22 Raptor, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General T. Michael Moseley, and Gates's firing of the Air Force leadership.

Price per book when ordered from me is $22. All proceeds are donated to the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a 501(c )(3) charity. And, yes, it's on Kindle, too.

Bob

(703) 264-8950

Robert F. Dorr

3411 Valewood Drive

Oakton VA 22124

robert.f.dorr@cox.net

Day One Six One. The Tumor Watch (Update)

Here's an update.

March is coming to an end and I am losing my ability to type on a keyboard. I can still talk. My speech is intact and I am always happy to take a phone call at (703) 264-8950. I am suffering no discomfort and am in great spirits. I am enjoying the time connecting with friends and family, and most of all taking advantage of the occasional free lunch or milkshake.

In October, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as a Glioblastoma Multiforme.

This type of tumor is always fatal. Life expectancy generally runs from three to fifteen months.

I had brain surgery December 2 and completed radiation and chemo February 25. As of this week, I am on a second round of chemo; one that requires taking pills for one full week each month.

Other than losing the ability to type on a keyboard, I've experienced no discomfort, pain, or side effects.

Books
My most popular book is "AIR POWER ABANDONED," the story of the F-22 Raptor, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, General T. Michael Moseley, and Gates's firing of the Air Force leadership.



My first murder mystery, "CRIME SCENE: FAIRFAX COUNTY" was published January. Both books can be gotten for Kindle, in print from Amazon, or,  preferably directly from me. Price per book when ordered from me is $22. All proceeds are donated to the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a 501(c )(3) charity.

I'm still mostly me. The tumor affects my ability to type and my speech. My speech is fully understandable and I'm urging friends to call at (703) 264-8950.

I can still think, read, converse, and be taken out to lunch.

Bob

(703) 264-8950

Robert F. Dorr

3411 Valewood Drive

Oakton VA 22124

robert.f.dorr@cox.net

Day One Five Eight. Influence: Joan Vasiliadis

Joan Vasiliadis was the strongest person I've ever known.

I know what it's like to have a strong partner. Mine's downstairs at the moment. But Joan, or Joannie, was the model from whom all others were cast.

No unlikelier couple ever existed than Joan and Charles Vasiliadis, known as Vas. Throw out everything you've ever thought about a fighter pilot's wife. Listen to Doug—one of the couple's three sons, along with Mark and Roger:

"My Mom went to Columbia Law School, and in 1953 she was one of only nine women in her graduating class of 135 students," said Doug.

"Mom was an intellectual Jewish, liberal democrat lawyer, and my Dad was a gritty Greek-Orthodox, conservative republican fighter pilot.

"She had spent the first 30 years of her life in New York City and could have continued a very successful professional career. But instead she married a fighter pilot, devoted herself to being a wife and a mother, moved from Air Force base to Air Force base raising 3 kids while much of the time my Dad was flying around the world and fighting in Vietnam."

Flying and fighting
Him? Well, he flew the F-86F and F-86H Sabre, F-100C and F-100D Super Sabre, A-1E Skyraider, F-105 Thunderchief and F-4 Phantom II. He flew 560 missions, was the high-hour A-1E pilot, was shot down and rescued in the F-105 and received two Silver Star medals. He's a big-hearted, outspoken, often humorous man of many accomplishments. But the smartest thing he ever did was to marry Joan Stern on March 23, 1961.

As their kids grew, Joannie was able to do some teaching, which was a natural for her.

But then the same thing that drew her away from the working world the first time happened again: this time not as a wife and mother but as a grandmother. When the three brothers started having kids, Joanie's biological instincts kicked in again and she became a superstar grandmother, or Yia Yia in Greek.

Off course she was ready, willing and able to baby sit whenever any of us wanted her to, but my Mom took being a grandmother to new heights.

As soon as the kids were ready, they started what soon became some of the most special and treasured times in their young lives, Yia Yia days. Once a week, each grandchild would get a Yia Yia day.


"Mom would pick them up either from home or school and spend the day with them doing an activity of their choice. Yia Yia days were spent at museums, libraries, restaurants, bowling alleys, arts and crafts shops, movie theaters, Chucky Cheese, or at Yia Yia's house baking."

Hostess with the mostest
She had special dinners for family every Sunday night for 20 years and hosted other events for an extraordinary circle of friends, including my wife Young Soon and me. Not once did I ever spy anything unhealthy on her table: the cuisine looked good and was good for us.

Vas and Joannie took good care of everyone around them—and of themselves. No one less deserved to be stricken with pancreatic cancer in 2008 than Joannie did. Mark, the physician in the family, found himself using his doctor's skills to aid his own dying mother. On the day of her diagnosis, Joan was shopping for a gift for a grandchild. She continued the task with aplomb.

Young Soon and I had dinner with Vas and Joannie after her diagnosis. Her only concern was for the rest of us.

Today, I'm facing my own cancer diagnosis. For details look elsewhere on this Blog. I can never be as brave as Joannie, but I can draw inspiration from her.

Joan Vasiliadis (January 17, 1930-July 22, 2008) we loved you, and you influenced everyone you touched.