World War II Honoree

Charles L. Wimberly

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Abernathy, Texas

Honored By

Dan Wimberly

Relationship

Son

JOINED THE U.S. ARMY IN 1940 AS AN AVIATION CADET. HE GRADUATED AS A PILOT IN AUGUST 1941. FROM 1942 TO 1944, HE SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AT SEVERAL FLYING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN THE AIR TRAINING COMMAND. IN 1944 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 376TH BOMB GROUP IN ITALY AS A COMMANDER FOR THE 515TH BOMB SQUADRON FLYING B-24 BOMBERS. HE FLEW 33 COMBAT MISSIONS, WITH HIS FIRST MISSION BEING AGAINST THE PLOESTI OIL FIELDS IN ROMANIA. HIS MILITARY MEDALS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PURPLE HEART.