Brigadier General Robert E. Brofft USAF, (ret.)

Brigadier General Robert Eugene Brofft passed away Tuesday, August 24 at his home in San Antonio. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Pat, and survived by his sisters Ruth La Mar and Peggy Hamblin, children Robert Eric Brofft, Bruce Alan Brofft, and Druanne Carol Mincemoyer, and grandchildren Robert Elliot Brofft, Rebecca Brofft, Alan Sumner Hinds-Brofft, and Kathrine Elisabeth Hinds-Brofft.

Gen Brofft was born on July 19, 1922 in Cincinnati, OH, the son of Rudolph Eugene Brofft and Viola “Ted” Huebner. He graduated from Walnut Hills HS in 1940, and attended the University of Cincinnati before volunteering for the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in Sept 1942. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Aug 1943, he flew 31 combat missions in Europe as a B-17 aircraft commander with the 457th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.

Following WWII, Capt Brofft served as an instructor pilot at Barksdale AFB, LA, where he met and married his bride, Patience “Pat” Miller of Brady, TX on March 19,1949. He went on to pilot RB-36, B-47, KC-135 and B-52 aircraft. In 1957 he commanded the 346th Bomb Squadron at Westover AFB in MA. Promoted to Col in 1960, he commanded the 68th Bomb Wing in 1966 at Seymour-Johnson AFB, then commanded the 99th Bomb Wing at Westover AFB in 1967. Deployed in 1968 and 1969 to Anderson AFB in Guam as 4133rd Provisional Bomb Wing commander, he led 61 combat missions as a B-52 command pilot, where his unit twice earned the AF Outstanding Unit award. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1970, he served at Randolph AFB and Hickam AFB in HI before retiring in 1972. He was a hereditary member of the Order of Daedalians and served on its Board of Directors.

Bob and Pat retired to the Hill Country near Blanco, TX in 1972, where they enjoyed participating in local community life. They enjoyed square dancing and bowling with friends at the Blanco Bowling Club. Both were active volunteer emergency medical technicians, and Bob served as area representative to CAPCO. In 1980, he and Pat moved to northside San Antonio to be closer to many friends and family.

A graveside memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 Monday, August 30 at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Order of Daedalians Scholarship Fund, P.O Box 249, Randolph AFB, TX 78148.