World War II Honoree

Charles Eugene Hersche

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bucyrus, Kansas

Honored By

Mary E. Mueller

Relationship

Sister-in-law

JOINED ARMY AIR CORPS DECEMBER 1940. TRAINED TO BE A PILOT. GRADUATED AUGUST 1941 AT STOCKTON AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. INSTRUCTOR IN SINGLE AND TWIN ENGINE TRAINER AIRCRAFT IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO. LATER INSTRUCTED IN B-17 AND B-24; TRAINED IN B-29; PROMOTED TO TAKE OVER THE TRAINING. RECEIVED SPECIAL ORDERS TO WRIGHT AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO WHERE HE FLEW AND TESTED THE AVION AND BOSCH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS FOR NEW MODEL B-29. ASSIGNED TO B-29 SQUADRON, NORTH FIELD TINIAN; ORDERED TO OKINAWA AFTER WWII. ASSIGNED AS GENERAL TIMBERLAKE’S PILOT. SEPARATED FROM SERVICE JANUARY 16, 1946.