Daryle Elwyn Tripp

Daryle Elwyn Tripp Major General Daryle E. Tripp, USAF (Ret.), passed away on 1 May 2024 in Fort Belvoir, VA. He was 96 years old. Born in Hornell, NY, Daryle was the son of Harvey and Eva Tripp. He graduated high school in 1945, attended Alfred University from 1945 to 1946, and graduated from the USNA in 1950. After commissioning in the USAF, General Tripp entered navigator training at Ellington AFB, TX, receiving his wings in February 1951 and a follow-on assignment to navigator-bombardier training at Mather AFB, CA. His first operational assignment was with the B-45 Tornado-equipped 47th Bombardment Wing at Langley AFB, VA. General Tripp then transferred to Royal Air Force Station Sculthorpe, England in May 1952. After nearly three years with the 85th and 86th Bombardment Squadrons, he transferred to the 345th Bombardment Group at Langley AFB, VA and flew in B-57s and B-26s until entering pilot training at Spence AB, GA in July 1955. He completed basic pilot training at Vance AFB, OK in July 1956 and remained there as a flight instructor in B-25s and T-33s. From there he served as flight commander and commandant of cadets until becoming aide to the commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH in July 1960. Daryle entered Harvard Business School in 1962, earning a master's degree in business administration. He was elected a Baker Scholar and graduated with distinction in 1964. From 1964 until 1968, General Tripp was a plans officer on the YF-12 and Airborne Warning and Control System programs, and Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, CO. He completed A-1 Skyraider combat crew training at Hurlburt Field, FL in 1968 and was subsequently assigned to the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai AFB, Thailand in 1969 as deputy commander for operations of the Sandy-Jolly Green combat rescue forces. General Tripp flew nearly 500 combat hours and in December 1969 directed the largest successful air rescue effort in the Southeast Asia conflict. General Tripp's assignments from January 1970 to July 1975 were in the Directorate of Plans, HQ USAF, Washington, DC, serving as branch chief, division chief, assistant deputy director, assistant for Joint and National Security Council matters and as deputy director of plans for force development. He was next assigned to HQ Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX as deputy chief of staff for technical training until February 1976 when he became deputy chief of staff for plans. He became deputy director of plans, HQ USAF in January 1978. In July 1979, he was assigned as deputy chief of staff for plans at HQ USAFE at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In July 1981, General Tripp assumed the duties as vice director for plans and policy, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC. He retired from active duty on 1 August 1983. General Tripp was a command pilot, navigator, bombardier and radar observer with nearly 5,000 flight hours. Military decorations/awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Presidential Unit Citation emblem. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was promoted to Major General on 11 May 1978 (with an effective date of rank of 1 September 1974). Predeceased by his wife Audrey, sons Robert and Raymond; General Tripp is survived by his oldest son, Richard, daughter-in-law, Connie, grandchildren Daryle (II), David, Alexis, Brianna, and numerous great-grandchildren. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.