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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES MILTON MCCORKLE |
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MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES MILTON MCCORKLE
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Retired Oct. 1, 1966.
Died Aug. 24, 2009.
Major General Charles Milton McCorkle is the assistant deputy chief of staff/programs and resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In this capacity he assists, and acts in the absence of, the deputy chief of staff, programs and resources in the responsibility for developing Air Force programs and for directing their implementation for most effective utilization of financial, manpower, materiel and real estate resources. He is a member of the Air Force Advisory Group, established to advise the chief of staff, U.S. Air Force on the Project RAND Research Program.
Born in Newton, N.C., in 1915, General McCorkle received his secondary education in local schools and graduated from the Columbian Preparatory School, Washington, D.C. in 1932. He then entered the U.S. Military Academy, graduating in June 1936. A year later he graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas and was assigned as pursuit pilot to the 24th Pursuit Squadron, Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone.
Following assignments as a squadron commander at California's Moffett and Hamilton fields and as a deputy group commander at Paine Field, Wash., he moved, at the start of World War II, with the 54th Fighter Group (P-39s) to Harding Field, La., and then to Alaska. He assumed command of the 54th on June 3, 1942. The 54th received the Distinguished Unit Citation for service during the Aleutians Campaign; and returned to the United States in early 1943.
In July 1943, the general took command of the 31st Fighter Group (Spitfires, later P-51s) in Sicily. He participated in air actions during the landings at Salerno and Anzio, fighter support of air attacks in Italy and Central Europe and in other typical missions assigned to fighter organizations during that period of time. When he returned to the United States and a new assignment as chief of staff of the First Fighter Command at Mitchel Field, N.Y., he was credited with 11 enemy aircraft destroyed in flight.
He was assigned as deputy chief of the Flight Test Division at Wright Field, Ohio in January 1946, completing the Performance Test Pilot's course of instruction while there.
Early in 1947, he began studies at the Armed Forces Staff College and, after graduation, reported as chief of staff of the Newfoundland Base Command at Fort Pepperrell. Two years later, he returned to the United States for more studies, this time at the Air War College. After graduation in 1950, he remained, until July 1953, as a faculty member and later as academic director.
A year as a student at the National War College preceded his assignment to Air Force Headquarters on July 16, 1954. He was named deputy assistant chief of staff for guided missiles. He became assistant chief of staff for guided missiles in September 1956. In July 1959, he assumed command of the Air Force Special Weapons Center, Alburquerque, N.M.
Reassigned to the Far East, on July 19, 1962,the general became vice commander of the Fifth Air Force (PACAF), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. He assumed his present duties in October 1965.
General McCorkle's decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 22 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart.
(Current as of April 15, 1966)
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