Military Folk Hero. Charles Marston Carpenter was the son of Frederick Merle "Fred" Carpenter and Lois M. née Marston. He was joined in marriage Elda May née Fritchle on July 3, 1940. He was a college history teacher when the war started. He joined the U.S. Army, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, later learning to fly observation aircraft as an artillery observer. He was sent to England and became part of the invasion of Europe in June 1944. He was assigned as a L-4 pilot in General George S. Patton's 3rd Army, supporting the 4th Armored Division. In early 1945, now a Lieutenant Colonel, he was medically discharged from the army due to illness. By this time, he had received the Silver Star medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star medal, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. These valor awards were due to his heroic actions in the air as an artillery observation pilot and one of his Silver Stars was due to ground combat. By the end of his service, he was credited with at least 14 destroyed enemy vehicles, 6 of which were tanks. He was nicknamed "Bazooka Charlie" then "The Mad Major" followed by "The Lucky Major." His aircraft was a Piper L-4 Grasshopper, serial number 43-30426 which eventually had six M1A1 bazookas bolted on its wing struts. It was nicknamed "Rosie the Rocketer." It was not the first light aircraft so armed, but with "Bazooka Charlie," it was "the most effective" of its class. (Bio by: Jay Lance)
Military Folk Hero. Charles Marston Carpenter was the son of Frederick Merle "Fred" Carpenter and Lois M. née Marston. He was joined in marriage Elda May née Fritchle on July 3, 1940. He was a college history teacher when the war started. He joined the U.S. Army, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, later learning to fly observation aircraft as an artillery observer. He was sent to England and became part of the invasion of Europe in June 1944. He was assigned as a L-4 pilot in General George S. Patton's 3rd Army, supporting the 4th Armored Division. In early 1945, now a Lieutenant Colonel, he was medically discharged from the army due to illness. By this time, he had received the Silver Star medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star medal, and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. These valor awards were due to his heroic actions in the air as an artillery observation pilot and one of his Silver Stars was due to ground combat. By the end of his service, he was credited with at least 14 destroyed enemy vehicles, 6 of which were tanks. He was nicknamed "Bazooka Charlie" then "The Mad Major" followed by "The Lucky Major." His aircraft was a Piper L-4 Grasshopper, serial number 43-30426 which eventually had six M1A1 bazookas bolted on its wing struts. It was nicknamed "Rosie the Rocketer." It was not the first light aircraft so armed, but with "Bazooka Charlie," it was "the most effective" of its class. (Bio by: Jay Lance)
Inscription
ILLINOIS
LT COL US ARMY
WWII SS & 1 OLC - BSM - AM & 1 OLC
Family Members
Other Records
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
