Major Charles Tomcal, 61, a retired Air Force Major and director of leasing for Dingman Advertising, died on September 29, 1983 at Grand Traverse Medical Care Facility. He was a Traverse City resident since 1973 and a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and the Elks Lodge No. 323. He was born in New Lothrop, Michigan on December 4, 1921 to John and Marie (Franta) Tomcal.
In 1960, while ranked a Captain, Charles received his commander pilot wings, the highest aeronautical rating for pilots. It represented having flown 13,000 hours during 20 years and 2,275,000 miles or as he put it " I could have made 9 one-way trips to the moon". His assignments were many and varied taking him to all parts of the globe and into two wars, World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a combat pilot flying transports in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operation in WWII and B-26 aircraft in Korea. The veteran pilot began his Air Force Career in 1940 after graduating from Chesaning High School in the class of 1939. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was a member of a small group of staff sergeants selected for pilot training. "The Flying Sergeants", as they were called, were graduated from flying school in 1942. The following year, Captain Tomcal was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After completing combat duty in 1944, he returned to the U. S. and began a tour as Air Force pilot for Braniff Air Lines. Later he was assigned to the USAF Military Air Transport Service. MATS flying took Captain Tomcal to US military out-post , throughout the world, where his passengers, such as the well known comedian, Bob Hope, had volunteered their services to entertain the troops. Captain Tomcal reverted to inactive status in 1947 and flew for North American Airlines until his recall to active duty in 1952 Kelly Field, Texas and world-wide flying as C-124 pilot was his assignment after Korea. In 1957 he was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFT, Ohio. He was standardization officer for three C-124 Squadrons based at Kelly Field, Hill AFB, Utah and Warner Robins AFB Georgia. In January 1960, Captain Tomcal was assigned to Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. As a Captain, Tomcal's decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaves Cluster, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaves Cluster.
In 1960, while ranked a Captain, Charles received his commander pilot wings, the highest aeronautical rating for pilots. It represented having flown 13,000 hours during 20 years and 2,275,000 miles or as he put it " I could have made 9 one-way trips to the moon". His assignments were many and varied taking him to all parts of the globe and into two wars, World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a combat pilot flying transports in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operation in WWII and B-26 aircraft in Korea. The veteran pilot began his Air Force Career in 1940 after graduating from Chesaning High School in the class of 1939. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was a member of a small group of staff sergeants selected for pilot training. "The Flying Sergeants", as they were called, were graduated from flying school in 1942. The following year, Captain Tomcal was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After completing combat duty in 1944, he returned to the U. S. and began a tour as Air Force pilot for Braniff Air Lines. Later he was assigned to the USAF Military Air Transport Service. MATS flying took Captain Tomcal to US military out-post , throughout the world, where his passengers, such as the well known comedian, Bob Hope, had volunteered their services to entertain the troops. Captain Tomcal reverted to inactive status in 1947 and flew for North American Airlines until his recall to active duty in 1952 Kelly Field, Texas and world-wide flying as C-124 pilot was his assignment after Korea. In 1957 he was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFT, Ohio. He was standardization officer for three C-124 Squadrons based at Kelly Field, Hill AFB, Utah and Warner Robins AFB Georgia. In January 1960, Captain Tomcal was assigned to Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. As a Captain, Tomcal's decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaves Cluster, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaves Cluster.
Major Charles Tomcal, 61, a retired Air Force Major and director of leasing for Dingman Advertising, died on September 29, 1983 at Grand Traverse Medical Care Facility. He was a Traverse City resident since 1973 and a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and the Elks Lodge No. 323. He was born in New Lothrop, Michigan on December 4, 1921 to John and Marie (Franta) Tomcal.
In 1960, while ranked a Captain, Charles received his commander pilot wings, the highest aeronautical rating for pilots. It represented having flown 13,000 hours during 20 years and 2,275,000 miles or as he put it " I could have made 9 one-way trips to the moon". His assignments were many and varied taking him to all parts of the globe and into two wars, World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a combat pilot flying transports in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operation in WWII and B-26 aircraft in Korea. The veteran pilot began his Air Force Career in 1940 after graduating from Chesaning High School in the class of 1939. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was a member of a small group of staff sergeants selected for pilot training. "The Flying Sergeants", as they were called, were graduated from flying school in 1942. The following year, Captain Tomcal was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After completing combat duty in 1944, he returned to the U. S. and began a tour as Air Force pilot for Braniff Air Lines. Later he was assigned to the USAF Military Air Transport Service. MATS flying took Captain Tomcal to US military out-post , throughout the world, where his passengers, such as the well known comedian, Bob Hope, had volunteered their services to entertain the troops. Captain Tomcal reverted to inactive status in 1947 and flew for North American Airlines until his recall to active duty in 1952 Kelly Field, Texas and world-wide flying as C-124 pilot was his assignment after Korea. In 1957 he was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFT, Ohio. He was standardization officer for three C-124 Squadrons based at Kelly Field, Hill AFB, Utah and Warner Robins AFB Georgia. In January 1960, Captain Tomcal was assigned to Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. As a Captain, Tomcal's decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaves Cluster, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaves Cluster.
In 1960, while ranked a Captain, Charles received his commander pilot wings, the highest aeronautical rating for pilots. It represented having flown 13,000 hours during 20 years and 2,275,000 miles or as he put it " I could have made 9 one-way trips to the moon". His assignments were many and varied taking him to all parts of the globe and into two wars, World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a combat pilot flying transports in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operation in WWII and B-26 aircraft in Korea. The veteran pilot began his Air Force Career in 1940 after graduating from Chesaning High School in the class of 1939. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and was a member of a small group of staff sergeants selected for pilot training. "The Flying Sergeants", as they were called, were graduated from flying school in 1942. The following year, Captain Tomcal was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
After completing combat duty in 1944, he returned to the U. S. and began a tour as Air Force pilot for Braniff Air Lines. Later he was assigned to the USAF Military Air Transport Service. MATS flying took Captain Tomcal to US military out-post , throughout the world, where his passengers, such as the well known comedian, Bob Hope, had volunteered their services to entertain the troops. Captain Tomcal reverted to inactive status in 1947 and flew for North American Airlines until his recall to active duty in 1952 Kelly Field, Texas and world-wide flying as C-124 pilot was his assignment after Korea. In 1957 he was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFT, Ohio. He was standardization officer for three C-124 Squadrons based at Kelly Field, Hill AFB, Utah and Warner Robins AFB Georgia. In January 1960, Captain Tomcal was assigned to Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. As a Captain, Tomcal's decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaves Cluster, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaves Cluster.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
