Foil: 9 Panel: 2 Column: 2 Line: 70

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

George Robert Casey, 86 of Penn Township, dies on Oct. 6 at home in Jenner’s Pond. He was the husband of Patricia Casey.
Born in Claymont, Delaware in 1919, he was a graduate of Claymont High School. H e earned a degree in business from Goldey Beacom College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts from West Chester University. He was a teacher, a musician, an actor, and a fighter pilot.
“Colonel Casey” was a member of the renowned 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd “Flying Tiger” Fighter Group during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for his achievements after flying 72 combat missions in the fabled Warhawk plane. In keeping with the military naming tradition of the day, he flew those missions under the moniker “Shifty” a nickname he earned while entertaining children with magic tricks between mission. (Shifti means “see” in the language of the children).
Mr. Casey was a legendary science teacher at Kennett High School for 26 years. After his retirement, he mastered the guitar, and entertained audiences young and old with song and his sense of humor. He was also a well known local actor, often performing in community plays with his wife, Patricia.
He was a familiar figure trekking miles and miles on local roads while training for his more adventurous hikes throughout the US and Europe. He logged many miles with The Wilmington Trail Club, including the 30-mile Brandywine End-to-End. He hiked all through Europe, but his most remarkable hiking achievement was The Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile pilgrimage that starts in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, through the Pyrenees, and ends at the tomb of St. James, the Greater in Compostela, Spain.

Note: Shifty signed the top of the belly tank on the P-40 displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Center along with two other 75th pilots, John Alison and Don Lopez.