World War II Honoree

Charles Bruce Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Richmond, Virginia

Honored By

McVMI 1943

Relationship

Friend

HE WAS GRADUATED FROM THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE IN THE CLASS OF 1942. HE WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE U.S. ARMY ON THAT DATE BUT SUBSEQUENTLY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A TRANSFER TO THE AIR CORPS. UPON GRADUATION AS A PILOT, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A PILOT OF A B-17. HE AND HIS CREW FLEW TO PRESTWICK, SCOTLAND AND JOINED THE 388TH BOMB GROUP, FIRST OVER POLAND AND THEN OVER GERMANY UNTIL THEY COMPLETED 25 MISSIONS. HE RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN, HE RETURNED TO THE STATES, BEGAN TRAINING ON THE B-29 AIRCRAFT AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 39TH BOMB GROUP IN SALINA, KANSAS. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, FLEW TO GUAM AND COMPLETED 28 MISSIONS OVER JAPAN. HE WAS AWARDED FOUR ADDITIONAL AIR MEDALS AND THREE MORE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES. HE WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR.