Drake, Charles W. -- oral history interview, circa 1980s-1990s

File — Box: 9

Scope and Contents

Fighter ace Charles W. Drake discusses his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the Pacific Theater with Marine Fighting Squadron 323 (VMF-323). Special focus on a combat mission on June 3, 1945 in which Drake scored several aerial victories and received the Navy Cross for his actions. He also mentions another combat mission in which he rescued a destroyer from an attacking Japanese plane and received the Air Medal.

Dates

Creation: circa 1980s-1990s

Creator

From the Collection: American Fighter Aces Association (Organization)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

All materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research. Due to preservation concerns, digital copies should be utilized instead of original materials. There is limited access to undigitized content.

Biographical Note: Charles W. Drake

Charles W. Drake was born on April 14, 1923 in Maplewood, New Jersey. He entered the V-5 Aviation Cadet Training Program in 1942 and received his commission with the United States Marine Corps the following year. During World War II, Drake served with Marine Fighting Squadron 323 (VMF-323) in Okinawa, operating out of Kadena Airfield. He left the military after the war and had several careers in the warehousing, transportation, and publishing industries. Drake passed away in 2000.