Charlie Falletta
Colonel, U.S. Air Force

On 3 May 1942, then-Second Lieutenant Charlie Falletta was serving as Pilot of P-39 Airacobra Fighter S/N 41-6951 in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, Far East Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, 2LT Falletta’s unit was in action against Japanese forces near Port Moresby, New Guinea. While on a mission to intercept enemy planes pursuing one of our bombers, 2LT Falletta saw a flight of 9 Japanese fighters. He made a diving head-on attack on the 2 leading planes through a burst of cannon and machine gun fire forcing the enemy formation to change course and split up, enabling the rest of his unit's planes to make successful attacks. Both enemy planes initially attacked by 2LT Falletta were last seen spinning earthward. He then made 2 attacks on separate enemy fighters, damaging both. 2LT Falletta’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Falletta was credited with shooting down 2 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat in World War II.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Command Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Charlie Falletta (ASN: 0-417206), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane in the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, FAR EAST Air Force, in action against enemy forces on 3 May 1942 near Port Moresby, New Guinea. While on a mission to intercept enemy planes pursuing one of our bombers, Lieutenant Falletta noted a flight of nine enemy fighters. He made a diving head-on attack on the two leading planes through a burst of cannon and machine gun fire and succeeded in forcing the enemy formation to change course and split up, enabling the rest of our planes to make successful attacks. Both enemy planes initially attacked by Lieutenant Falletta were last seen spinning earthward. He then made two more attacks on separate enemy fighters, damaging both. Second Lieutenant Falletta's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters: Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 113 (1944)

Death and Inurnment

Colonel Charlie Falletta died on 9 June 2007. His ashes are inurned at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ, in Section C-6, Row D, Site 33.

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