Retired Col. Charles Correll began his Air Force career in June 1953, entering as an Aviation Cadet where he served as a navigator and radar observer for eight years. He later commissioned as an officer. A master navigator with more than 4,000 flying hours, Correll initially flew on the KB-29--a refueling variant of the B-29 bomber.
During his Vietnam tour, Correll flew the C-123 on 165 night forward air control combat missions out of Nakom Phantom, Thailand as part of the 606th Special Operations Squadron where he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and eight Air Medals. Upon returning from Vietnam, Correll transitioned to Air Force Civil Engineering where he commanded two squadrons and served in joint assignments for Engineering and Services in Military Airlift Command until 1979.
