Charles E. Adams, Jr.
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

Charles E. Adams, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1942 and then entered the Aviation Cadet Program with the U.S. Army Air Forces in July 1942. After completion of flight training, on 28 July 1943, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Williams Field, AZ.

Following training in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, in January 1944 he was assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, Fifteenth Air Force at Vincenzo Airfield, Italy. The 95th Fighter Squadron provided fighter cover for the Fifteenth Air Force's heavy bombers when they strafed and bombed Axis oil targets. On 10 June 1944, the 82nd participated in one of the most daring strikes of the war, bombing the Romano-Americano oil refineries at Ploesti, the most heavily defended target on the continent. For this mission, in which the Group braved head-on attacks by enemy interceptors, it was awarded a third Distinguished Unit Citation.

1LT Adams was credited with air-to-air kills of 6 enemy aircraft before he returned to the U.S. in August 1944. He was one of seven aces in the 95th Fighter Squadron.

Captain Adams served as an instructor pilot until he left active duty on 6 August 1945.

Post-Military Life

In 1948, Adams received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He worked in the oil industry until his retirement in February 1983.

Medals, Awards, and Badges

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with Award Numeral 12
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army and Army Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Captain Charles E. Adams, Jr. was one of them. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Death and Burial

Captain Charles E. Adams, Jr. died on 6 January 1992. He is buried at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Denver County, CO, in Section 2, Site 113.