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Charles David "Charlie" Jones

USMC Lieutenant

Silver Star
Distinguish Flying Cross w/2 gold stars
Air Medal w/2 Silver & 3 Bronze Stars

Also awarded:
Marine Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asia Pacific Campaign w/3 Bronze Stars
WW2 Victory Medal
National Defense Medal
Korean Service & Korean War Service Medals
United Nations Service (Korea) Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Born 26 March 1917.
He enlisted in Dec. 1940 (RO/AG) but remustered in '41 (Pilot).
Trained at Pensacola & Winged in Miami [?], Nov. 29, 1942.
Flying Sergeant to 1st Lt. - Did 3 tours of duty.
With VMSB131 (Dive Bombers) VMF122, 214 & 222.

Died 5 March 1965 in a helicopter crash over Laos while flying for "Air America."
He was survived by his wife Martha, son David & daughters Daryl & Deborah.

Charles Jones
 

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Vindicator
VMSB131 Vindicator Dive Bomber, the type Jones flew in as a Radio Op/Gunner in 1941 at Quantico. Va. His friend Norman Pearson, seen here in the rear seat of 131-S-7, was killed in a crash at Espiritu Santo, Solomon Islands. Charlie got this photo from a flying magazine.

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Pilot Brothers in Law

Charles D. Jones, husband of Mrs. Martha Jones (nee Jenkinson) of 112 Dow avenue, Mineola, has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Air Corps and is now on fighter pilot duty somewhere in the Pacific. He was a master sergeant before going to Pensacola, Fla., for training.
The brother of Charles' wife, Frank F. Jenkinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Jenkinson of 112 Dow avenue, Mineola, has received his wings and commission as second lieutenant and is now stationed at Roswell Field, N. M.

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Tells How Marines Strafed 10,000 Japs
'Gave Them Hell,' Says Mineola Lieutenant, And 60 Zeros Raced Home to Avoid Fight

(Special to the Brooklyn Eagle) Mineola, 4 Nov. 1943 — How his fighter division "strafed hell out of 10,000 Japs" on an island in the Pacific was described in a letter written by 2d Lt. Charles David Jones to his wife, Martha Jones of 112 Dow Ave., on Oct. 12.
Lieutenant Jones was mentioned in dispatches yesterday as one of a group of fliers who had bombed a Japanese stronghold in the Solomons.
"We have really been giving the Japs hell out here," he wrote. "There were 10,000 of them on an island and we had them cut off so that they could not get supplies onto the island and could not get off the island. They would try to bring small barges in at night and put tree branches over them in the daytime so we could not find them. But we did."

Tells of Downing Zero
In another letter, dated Oct. 12, Jones, a fighter plane pilot in the marine air corps, told how he downed a Zero. "I got on his tail," he said, "and he did a vertical roll, doing a tight spiral. I followed him through it shooting all the time, then pulled out and watched him dive into the sea."
Jones on Sept. 8, wrote his wife. "We have been sleeping in fox holes every night and are bombed every night by the Japs. None of the hits is effective. We have been flying all over the Jap-held Island and the blankety-blanks won't come up and fight."

 
Charles Jones
Lt. Charles Jones

60 Japs Flee Marines
A letter dated Oct. 7 told of how 60 Jap Zeros fled when attacked by marine fighter planes. "The radar picked up a large bogie and we had to land and refuel," he wrote. "We hurried but by the time we climbed to 25,000 feet and arrived at the scene of the scrap the Japs had run home. That was the worst thing that happened today. The bogie was 60 Zeros and seven of our F-4U's (Corsairs) downed six of them."
Jones was born in Tampa. Fla., and for several years lived at Smithtown. There he met and married Martha Jenkinson. He is 26 and his mother is Mrs. W. H. Sherouse of Reddick, Fla. He enlisted in December 1940, and won his wings in Miami, Fla., in December, 1942.
Mrs. Jones has a brother, Frank F. Jenkinson, who is a flight officer in the army air corps.

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FLIER FROM MINEOLA BAGS TWO JAP ZEROS

AN ADVANCED SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, 18 Dec. 1943 — (AP. Delayed—via airmail) — In an engagement over Rabaul today Second Lieutenant Charles D. Jones, Mineola, shot down two Zeros. Eighty-five fighter planes escorted bombers in the attack upon Rabaul. The kill gave the flier a total of three Japanese planes.

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138 MISSION FIGHTER PILOT 'ALWAYS LOOKS FOR TROUBLE'
Nine Zeros Blasted By Flying Deuces Man Now at Miramar

"Always looking for trouble" is the fighting slogan of 1st Lt. Charles D. Jones, 27, a marine fighter pilot with the Flying Deuces, who recently returned from Southwest Pacific combat and now is stationed at the Miramar air depot.
Credited with shooting down six Zeros, destroying three more on the ground, and blasting 12 troop barges, Jones flew 138 missions out of Munda, Vella Lavella and Bougainville.
Zero hunting was best over Rabaul. He downed five enemy planes over the Jap base, and holds the Air Medal for "excellent airmanship" while neutralizing enemy power there.
Donald Sapp
Major Donald Sapp
 

"The skipper and I could never resist a Jap target," Jones said yesterday, referring to his teammate, Maj. Donald H. Sapp, of Miami, Fla. "On one flight over the Kahili airdrome on Bougainville last September, we saw seven planes warming up for a take-off, and dove down after them. The major got four, and I got the others." There were four pilots involved in the attack which also involved strafing a destroyer on the way home.
Jones bagged his first Zero in a nip and tuck dogfight last October off Bougainville, watching it barrel-roll and plunge into the sea.
More recently, he dropped to a level of 75 feet to riddle a string of six trucks on a New Britain road.

(Nine Zeros and one Jap bomber fell before the flaming guns of Marine Maj. Donald H. Sapp, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Sapp of Bowling Green, shown at Marine Corps air depot, Miramar, Calif. The flier served as executive officer of the "Flying Deuces" fighter squadron in operations from Guadalcanal, Munda and Cape Torokina, Bougainville. He holds the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was formerly employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Miami.)

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Flying Crippled Plane Tampan Bags Two Zeros
Lieut. Charles D. Jones, Forced to Abandon Formation, Enters Ranks of Marine Aces

Jones in Cockpit
Jones in the cockpit of his F4-U Corsair
 

(The following story was written by First Lieutenant Penn T. Kimball, New Britain, Conn., a Marine Corps public relations officer) BOUGAINVILLE, 15 Feb. 1944 — (AP Delayed) — Engine trouble forced him out of formation and he came home late from Rabaul today, but Second Lieut. Charles D. Jones of Tampa, Fla., Marine fighter pilot, didn't complain.
A lone wolf, he shot down his fifth and sixth enemy planes to enter the ranks of Marine aces.

Is “Flying Deuce"
Lieutenant Jones, a member of "The Flying Deuces Squadron," was flying high cover on a formation of army Mitchells on their way to attack a Rabaul air field when his supercharger balked. He related:
"I couldn't maintain altitude, so I dropped out of my flight and ducked in behind the bombers. As we approached the target, six Zeros peeled off from above, and came charging toward the bombers. "One of the Jap planes came right through the Mitchells and flattened out his dive below. I made for him, head-on and my bullets ripped into his engine cowling as he whistled under my nose.
"I pulled up, looked over my shoulder, and saw the Zero spinning down into the mountains, burning and out of control."
During the short flight, the Florida Marine fell behind the other American planes, and circled alone over Rabaul looking for them.
"The bombers had retired out of sight. I saw what looked like a half dozen planes in a dogfight a few miles away. But when I tried to climb up to them, my engine wouldn't pull. I made one more circle over Rabaul, and had belatedly started home alone when I spotted a pair of Zeros headed the same way just over the water.

Into the Ocean
"I throttled back to drop on top of them, picked out the one in the rear, and whipped on its tail. Firing, I could see the pieces fly off every part of the Zero. The Jap faltered in a slow glide to the left, started smoking, and continued straight into the ocean.
"I looked around for the second Jap ship, but he was streaking for home. I decided it was time for me to do the same."
Enlisting as a private in September 1940, Lieutenant Jones flew 300 hours as a dive bomber gunner before being selected for flight training. He won his Marine wings Nov. 29, 1942.
He is a graduate of Hillsborough High school, Tampa, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. His mother is Mrs. W. H. Sherouse of Williston, Fla., and his wife, Mrs. Margaret B. Jones, lives at Mineola, Long Island, N.Y.

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Jones Awarded Silver Star

Marine First Lieutenant Charles David Jones, 27, son of Mrs. W. H. Sherouse of Williston, Fla., has been awarded the Silver Star Medal for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy." Presentation of the award was made at El Toro, Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Ana, Calif., where he is an instructor in aerial combat. His wife is the former Martha E. Jenkinson of 112 Dow Ave., Mineola, N.Y.

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SOUTH PACIFIC AREA AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER

In the name of the President of the United States, the Commander South Pacific Area air Force takes pleasure in awarding the Silver Star Medal to First Lieutenant Charles David Jones, United States Marine Corps Reserve for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For conspicuous Gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a pilot attached to a Marine fighter squadron operating in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago areas from November 18, 1943 to March 19, 1944. During two tours of duty. Lieutenant Jones took part in numerous combat missions over Japanese territory, frequently encountering intense anti-aircraft fire and heavy fighter plane opposition. On December 19, while escorting a bomber strike against Rabaul, New Britain, he destroyed two enemy fighters which were encountered. On February 5 and 15, while escorting bombers over Vunakanau airfield, New Britain, he destroyed three of the many enemy fighters which attempted Interception. His outstanding airmanship and courageous conduct contributed materially to the success of all missions and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

J. H. Newton, Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy.

(OFFICIAL U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO)

  Chuck Jones

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Williston Flier is Decorated

Marine First Lieut. Charles David Jones, 27, whose aunt, Mrs. R. A. Norton, lives at 1087 Brown Street, has been awarded the Silver Star Medal for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy," it was learned yesterday.
He is the son of Mrs. W. H. Sherouse of Williston. His wife is now living in Laguna Beach, Calif., near Santa Ana, where he is serving as an instructor in aerial combat.
An accompanying citation, signed by Vice Admiral J. H. Newton, extolled Lieutenant Jones for destroying five enemy aircraft in three missions. "He destroyed two Jap planes in December, 1943, while escorting a bomber raid against Rabaul, New Britain," continues the public relations dispatch from Marine Corps Headquarters, "and on February 5 and 15, while escorting bombers over Vunakanau airfield, New Britain, he destroyed three of the Jap fighters which attempted interception." Lieutenant Jones served for three months on Midway and 10 months in the Solomon Islands area. He returned to the States in April, 1944.
The Marine flier received flight training in Florida at Pensacola and Miami as an enlisted pilot. He was commissioned in July, 1943, at Hawaii and was promoted to his present rank in April, 1944. In addition to the Silver Star, he holds the Air Medal.

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S-E-C-R-E-T

Mentioned for his work with Corsair bomb racks

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Blood Chits

Blood Chit  

Blood Chit

Two Blood Chits belonging to Charlie. The one on the left instructs Chinese people to help and protect the wearer in any way they can. The one on the right shows the holder to be an American with a message written in French, Annamese, Thai, Chinese, Korean & Japanese. Unfortunately, the bottom has been cropped off the image but if you click on it you can see the French & Annamese text.

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Victories Include :

?? Sep 1943
11 Oct 1943
18 Dec 1943
5 Feb 1944
11 Feb 1944
15 Feb 1944
17 Feb 1944
  3  Zeros
one Zero
two Zeros
one Zero
one Zero
two Zeros
one Zero
Dest. OTG
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Damaged
Destroyed
Probable

6 / 1 / 1

plus 3 On The Ground

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie is on the right

 

 

Charlie & a Corsair

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TWO POEMS FOUND IN CHARLIE'S SCRAPBOOK
BOTH TYPED ON FLYING DUECES LETTERHEAD

 

I’LL CALL THIS A LETTER

I CAN'T WRITE A THING
THE CENSOR IS TO BLAME
JUST TO SAY I'M WELL
AND ALSO MY NAME
CAN'T TELL WHERE WE SAIL FROM
CAN'T MENTION THE DATE
AND CAN'T EVEN NUMBER
THE MEALS THAT I ATE
CAN'T SAY WHERE WE’RE GOING
DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL LAND
COULDN'T INFORM YOU
IF MET BY A BAND
CAN'T MENTION THE WEATHER
CAN'T SAY IF THERE'S RAIN
FOR ALL MILITARY SECRETS
MUST SECRETS REMAIN
CAN'T HAVE A FLASH LIGHT
TO GUIDE ME AT NIGHT
CAN'T SMOKE A CIGARETTE
EXCEPT OUT OF SIGHT
CAN'T KEEP A DIARY
FOR SUCH IS A SIN
CAN'T KEEP THE ENVELOPE
YOUR LETTERS COME IN
CAN'T SAY FOR SURE, FOLKS
JUST WHAT I CAN WRITE
SO I'LL CALL THIS A LETTER
AND CLOSE WITH GOOD NIGHT

Author unknown (Charlie?)       

 

TROPICAL SERENADE                 

DOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO TEN COMMANDANTS
AND A MAN CAN RAISE A THIRST
LIES THE OUTCAST OF CIVILIZATION
WHERE LIFE IS AT IT'S VERY WORST
THERE IN THOSE FEVER SOAKED ISLANDS
ARE THE MEN THAT GOD FORGOT
FIGHTING THE JAPS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD
AND THE ITCH AND TROPICAL ROT
NOBODY KNOWS HOW THEY ARE LIVING
THE FEW THAT DO DON'T GIVE A DAMN
BACK HOME THEY ARE SOON FORGOTTEN
THOSE MARINES OF UNCLE SAM
COVERED WITH SWEAT IN THE EVENING
THEY LIE IN THEIR FOX-HOLES AND DREAM
AND WISH TO HELL THERE WERE LIQUOR
TO HELP DAM UP MEMORIES STREAM
WHERE EVEN NO NATIVES ARE LIVING
THERE IN THAT SULTRY ZONE
THEY FIGHT ALONE IN A MAN HADE HELL
THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME
WHERE THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS LIBERTY OR LEAVE
AND NO ONE DRAWS ANY PAY
AND THERE'S NOTHING TO DO IN THE EVENING
UNLESS BOMBERS ARE COMING YOUR WAY
VERMIN IN YOUR BED WHEN YOU USE IT
ILLS THAT NO DOCTOR CAN CURE
HELL NO, WE AREN'T CONVICTS
JUST MARINES ON A FOREIGN TOUR

Phillips — USMCR

 

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Post 1945

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Phantoms

 

US Marine Corps Phantoms In Formation

 

These four FH-1 PHANTOM jets are the first Marine jets to be photographed in formation anywhere, it is believed here. Photographed by SSgt Dagenais, PIO photographer, these four jets were piloted by 1stLt. Charles D. Jones, 1stLt. James McDaniel, 1stLt. William H. Bortz, Jr, and MSgt. Lytton F. Blass, all of VMF-122, during a local hop 23 January 1948.

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Charlie Jones

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Thanks go out to

Daryl for the photos & infos !

On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.

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