In 1942, CPT Robert F. Cassidy was designated as the principal air observer for the field test of Organic Air Observation for Field Artillery with the 2nd ID competing with the Army Air Corps Observation School. The outstanding success of the Artillery Air OP in the competition resulted in the approval of the concept by the War Department.

Subsequently, MAJ Cassidy fought his way into the program at a time when RA officers, particularly West Point graduates, were being strongly advised by their superiors to avoid Army Aviation as a "dead end street". On completion of flight training, he established the tactical training part of the Liaison Pilot Course and was responsible for all tactical training until 1944. He then PCS’d to Eighth U.S. Army where he was senior Artillery Aviation Officer in the Pacific.

As the senior aviator in the Dept. of Air Training at Ft. Sill in ‘50-’51, LTC Cassidy was primarily responsible for the smooth, efficient expansion of pilot training from a rate of 100 pilots per year to 2,600 to meet the requirements of Korea, an astounding increase.

In ‘51 he became the Aviation Officer, ODCSLOG in DA. Because of numerous complaints from overseas field commanders regarding deficiencies in Depot level supply and maintenance support, COL Cassidy proposed, prepared, and successfully staffed a study on the transfer of all logistic support for Army aircraft from the Air Force.

He was the action officer for the entire project from 1952 until 1955, during which the almost unanimous opposition by the Army General Staff, as well as the USAF staff, was gradually overcome by this tactful persuasion and numerous revisions. In mid-1955 a Memorandum of Understanding was approved, resulting in the independent depot support structure for Army Aviation.

He also was the Logistic member of a team that did the studies and sold the Army and the JCS on expanding the experimental five-company “cargo helicopter program” to 12 battalions, and then procured the H-21 and H-34 helicopters to fill them.

From ‘57-’62, he served as Chief, Aviation and Airborne Division, Materiel Development Section, USCONAARC, where he expertly guided the development and user test of the H-37, UH-1A through D, Caribou and Mohawk for the Army’s growing aviation arm.

In his final assignment as Assistant Commandant, USAAVNS, in ‘63-’65, this Master Aviator judiciously directed the rapidly increasing training program, including the expanding WOC School and the Army Aircraft Maintenance Program to support the growing conflict in Vietnam.

A true Army Aviation pioneer, superb trainer-logistician, and a major contributor to the success of Army Aviation from its inception, Robert F. Cassidy is richly qualified to join the Hall of Fame.

 

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