CHARLES F. SWOPE, CAPT, USAF
Charles Swope '57
Lucky Bag
From the 1957 Lucky Bag:
CHARLES FREDERICK SWOPE
Newport, Kentucky
Hailing from the Land of Bluegrass and standing not much higher than the blades themselves, Charlie's primary interest lay in athletics, especially with the Varsity 150 pounders. With studies providing the greatest obstacle, Charlie found Academy life rather fast moving. The most enjoyable part of that life was the daily letter and those occasional weekends with the hometown sweetheart. A good man at a party, Charlie liked his music fast, his women short and his weekends long. Coming from a long line of lovers of the soil, he set a new precedent in his clan, but whether on land or sea, he can always be seen putting out when things are tough.
CHARLES FREDERICK SWOPE
Newport, Kentucky
Hailing from the Land of Bluegrass and standing not much higher than the blades themselves, Charlie's primary interest lay in athletics, especially with the Varsity 150 pounders. With studies providing the greatest obstacle, Charlie found Academy life rather fast moving. The most enjoyable part of that life was the daily letter and those occasional weekends with the hometown sweetheart. A good man at a party, Charlie liked his music fast, his women short and his weekends long. Coming from a long line of lovers of the soil, he set a new precedent in his clan, but whether on land or sea, he can always be seen putting out when things are tough.
Loss
Charlie was killed in action on November 9, 1966 when his aircraft was shot down over Vietnam. He was a forward air controller and part of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, 6253rd Combat Support Group, 14th Air Commando Wing, 7th Air Force.
Other Information
From the March 1967 issue of Shipmate:
Capt Charles F. Swope, USAF, was killed in action in South Vietnam on 9 Nov. He was serving as a pilot with 6253 Tactical Air Support Group, reporting in Vietnam on 23 August. Services were held on 26 Nov. with interment in Evergreen Cemetery at Southgate, Ky. Capt Swope, a native Kentuckian, was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1957, and commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. He received his wings on 13 Oct 1959. He had served at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; Hahn Air Base, Germany, Vance AFB in Oklahoma and Pease AFB, New Hampshire. His medals included the Air Force Longevity Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Medal and the Vietnamese Service Medal.
He is survived by his widow Bonnie; a son Frederick W. and daughter Kimberly of 9500 Toni Drive, Cuder Ridge, Miami, Fla.; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Swope of 105 Dixie Place, Fort Thomas, Ky.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Charles graduated from Newport High School in 1953. “Club Foot” Football 1, 2, 3, 4; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 1, 2, 3, 4; Student Council 1, 2, Vice President 3, President 4; Junior Class President; Swimming Club 4; Annual Staff 4. Charles attempted 158 passes, completed 88 for a total of 1323 yards and 7 interceptions.
In October 1958, he was stationed at McCoy Field in Florida.
In November 1959, he received his silver pilot wings after completing basic jet flying training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He was next assigned to McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas for combat crew training in B-47s.
He flew a Strategic Air Command B-47 bomber until the plane was phased out. He later flew an F-100 jet fighter.
In December 1961, the family lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In April 1964, Charles was a member of a four-man crew of a B7 bomber which began spewing gasoline and bits of red-hot metal from the right engine. The plane landed safely at the Strategic Air Command at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire.
In Viet Nam, he was assigned to the Republic of South Korea Army.
He married Bonnie Poole. Their children were Kimberly Ann and Frederick W.
His father Frederick was a supervisor at Interlake Steel in Wilder. His mother Mary was a nurse; and his sister was Mrs. James Riffe. The family had just received a letter from him in which he said he had been promoted to the Green Beret Special Forces serving in Viet Nam.
Remembrances
Charlie's brief Vietnam story is told over several pages of "Vietnam Above the Treetops: A Forward Air Controller Reports" by John F. Flanagan. The page where Charlie's death and recovery is described is not a part of the google search result. He had arrived at his operating base on Monday and was killed on a Wednesday while flying only his fifth mission.
Photographs
From The Kentucky Post on July 15, 1954
From his 1952 high school yearbook
From his 1953 high school yearbook
From The Kentucky Post on June 6, 1957
From The Kentucky Post on July 23, 1953
Related Articles
Bruce Purvis '57 and Dwight Worrell '57 were also in 15th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.