Greening, Charles Ross, Col

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
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Last Rank
Colonel
Primary Unit
1943-1945, Status - POW/MIA
Service Years
1936 - 1957
Officer srcset=
Colonel

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

15 kb


Home State
Iowa
Iowa
Year of Birth
1914
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr. to remember Greening, Charles Ross, Col.

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Hoquiam, Washington
Last Address
Bethesda Navy Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland
Date of Passing
Mar 29, 1957
 
Location of Interment
Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Section 6, Site 9161-D-RH

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 

Cold War Medal Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Gold Medal


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
National Cemetery Administration (NCA)In the Line of DutyAir Force Memorial (AFM)
  1957, National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
  2017, In the Line of Duty
  2017, Air Force Memorial (AFM) - Assoc. Page


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

He was the pilot in crew #11 on the Doolittle Raid. It was necessary to both increase the range of the B-25's and not to risk the top-secret Norden bombsights.  As the unit armament officer, Capt. Greening was instrumental in reducing the aircraft's weight and adding extra fuel tanks. He also devised a 20-cent replacement bomb sight that actually worked better than the Norden at low altitudes. While serving again with the 17th Bomb group in North Africa, he was shot down over Italy and captured by the Germans. After 2 months, he escaped and was at liberty for 6 months but was then recaptured and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.
After the war, he continued to serve in the USAAF and USAF in the US except for a brief period as Air Attaché to Australia and New Zealand.  

His DFC citation:

Awarded for actions during World War II

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Charles Ross Greening (ASN: 0-22443), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Captain Greening with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.

Action Date: April 18, 1942

Service: Army Air Forces

Rank: Captain

Company: 1st Special Aviation Project

Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force
Crew #11 (aircraft # 40-2249, "Hari Kari-er", target Yokohama), 34th Bomb Sq. (except 1)), L-R: Lt Frank A. Kappeler, navigator; Capt C. Ross Greening (89th Recon Sq), pilot; Sgt Melvin J. Gardner, flight engineer/gunner; Lt Kenneth E. Reddy, co-pilot; SSgt William L. Birch, bombardier. (USAF photo)

   
Other Comments:

Sources:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1890
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/greening.htm
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/crgreening.htm
http://www.fold3.com/page/461702164_col_charles_ross_ross_greening/
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41499308
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30181
http://bombgroup17.com/home

   

 1949-1949, B-29 Superfortress
From Year
1949
To Year
1949
   
Personal Memories
Not Specified
   
Image
 B-29 Superfortress Details
 


Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-29A Superfortress
Length 99.02 ft | 30.18 m
Width 142.26 ft | 43.36 m
Height 29.56 ft | 9.01 m
Engine(s) 4 x Wright R-3350-57 radial piston engines generating 2,200hp.
Empty Weight 71,361 lbs | 32,369 kg
MTOW 141,102 lbs | 64,003 kg
Max Speed 358 mph | 576 km/h | 311 kts
Max Range 4,100 miles | 6,598 km
Ceiling 31,808 ft | 9,695 m | 6.0 miles
Climb Rate 526.3 ft/min (160.4 m/min)
Hardpoints 0
Armament 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated dorsal turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated under-nose turret
2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret over rear fuselage.
2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret under rear fuselage
2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position
1 x 20mm cannon in tail gun position

6,000lbs or internal ordnance.
Accommodations 10
Operators the United States of America

   
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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2018
   
My Photos From This Aircraft/Missile
No Available Photos

  74 Also There at This Aircraft:
 
  • Dickerson, John, M., Cpl, (1947-1950)
  • Fiori, Almondo, SSgt, (1949-1952)
  • Hicks, Nathan, 1st Lt, (1943-1953)
  • McFarland Jr, Kenneth T, Lt Col, (1941-1969)
  • McGee, Charles Edward, Brig Gen, (1942-1973)
  • Rima, Merton, MSgt, (1947-1977)
  • Salisbury, Bruce, MSgt, (1946-1966)
  • Wata, Joe, CMSgt, (1948-1970)
  • Wilson, Charles, CMSgt, (1948-1972)
  • Wilson, Louise
  • Wisz, Matthew
  • Young, David, MSgt, (1948-1969)
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