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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Charlie enlisted in the Navy one year after Pearl Harbor and like his brother Harry became an Aviation Radiomen and Air Crewmember, but served on SB2C Dive bombers in the Pacific War.
After completion of technical training he was assigned to Bombing Squadron (VB)-17. Charlie always considered himself fortunate to be assigned to this veteran unit that was starting on their second tour of duty. After extensive training at NAS Alameda, CA, HILO, Hawaii and Agana Air field, Guam; Carrier Air Group (CAG)-17 was assigned to the Carrier Hornet (CV-12); Task Group 58.1, of Fast Carrier Task Force 38, Feb. - May, 1945. CAG-17 arrived in time to support the invasion of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and numerous air strikes against the Japanese home Islands. The high point of the tour on the Hornet was the air strike against a Japanese Naval Task force lead by the Super-Dreadnaught "Yamato." Aircraft from the Hornet scored the first hits on this task force the morning of April 6, 1945.
Charlie was recommended for Naval Aviation Cadet training and after training at USNPFS Ottumwa, IA, USNATB Corpus Christi, TX and Pensacola, FL; he won his "Wings of Gold" and was commissioned Ensign USNR on Jan. 15, 1948.
Charlie was recalled to active duty in August of 1950, after the start of the Korean War. He served two Mediterranean tours aboard the Carrier Franklyn D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), flying AD-4s with Attack Squadrons VA-45 and VA-175.
Charlie died in an aircraft training accident at Cecil Field, FL on Feb. 26 1952 and is buried next to his brother, 2nd Lt. John W. Conway in the Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer, VA.