MULLIN, Colonel Robert E., USAF (Ret.)

(Age 88)

Robert E. "Bob" Mullin, born September 17, 1921, died peacefully at home on November 15, 2009 surrounded by his wife of 66 years, Carmel, and his family. Colonel Mullin served 30 years in the US Air Force. He enlisted in 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, spent 1941-42 in Navigator/Bombardier training and graduated with his wings in 1943. He was assigned to a B-29 unit and quickly deployed to India and China. During his time overseas, he flew combat missions from Tinian to Japan. Returning to the States, he was stationed at March Field, Riverside, California, then Fairchild AFB until transferred to Yokota, Japan to participate in the Korean War. He flew 74 missions. Then he returned and went into the pilot training program at Vance AFB, receiving his wings as well as a commission as Captain in the Regular Air Force. From 1952-55, Colonel Mullin was assigned as a pilot and aircraft commander in B-29s and later to B-47 units in the Strategic Air Command. In 1955, he entered the highly classified U-2 high altitude reconnaissance program until his assignment as Chief of the Reconnaissance Division of the Strategic Air Command's 7th Air Division in England in 1957. For the next three years, he was involved in planning and overseeing classified U-2 and B-47 reconnaissance activities along the Cold War's East-West border. Returning stateside in 1960, he was assigned as commander of an Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Crew at Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington. In 1962, he was assigned to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Omaha, Nebraska as Chief of the SAC Inspector General's Missile Operations Division. In 1964, Colonel Mullin was assigned as commander of a Titan 1 Strategic Missile Squadron at Fairchild AFB. In 1967, he became the commander of the 91st Strategic Missile Wing (SAC) at Minot AFB, North Dakota. This wing was equipped with the Minuteman missile, at that time the most advanced weapons system in the US. In 1970, he returned to Riverside, California with Carmel, where he served as Deputy Director of Operations, 15th Air Force (SAC) at March AFB before retiring from military service in 1971. Among Colonel Mullin's military decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Pacific Service Medal. In 1972, Bob joined the Operations Division of Expo '74, the organization charged with planning, building and operating the 1974 Spokane World's Fair. In 1975, he joined the Emergency Medical Board where he served as chairman and a leader in bringing the 9-1-1 Program to the Spokane area. Colonel Mullin was also chairman of the Spokane Emergency Services Advisory Board from 1981-1994. He was the Executive Director of the Spokane Medical Society. Though WWII interrupted his studies at UC Berkeley, Bob returned to Gonzaga University to complete his undergraduate degree at the age of 70. He was an avid reader who loved books, especially history and poetry. He was passionate about fishing, boating, and traveling to Europe with Carmel. He is survived by his wife, Carmel, his three daughters, Leslie Mullin (Terry), Patty Mullin, and Robin Rudd (Art); his niece, Joanne Kovely (Chuck); his grandchildren, Tara White (Chris), Chris Wulff, Kelly Rudd (Courtney), Loren Rudd, Marissa Breeze (Sam), Brandon Rudd, Brian Rudd, and Max Forman-Mullin; and four great grand-children, Trevor, Ella, Jacob and Angelina Robin. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph O. Mullin; his mother, Ann Mullin; his brother, James Spencer; and his sister, Doris Philbrick. Services will be held on Saturday, November 21st, at 11:30 at the Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Cemetery, 5200 W. Wellesley, Spokane. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Alicia Angelina Rudd Memorial Fund may be sent to the Sacred Heart Medical Center Development Fund, PO Box 2555, Spokane, Washington 99220. Please sign the online memorial book at

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