Heckel, Charles, Col

Deceased

Service Photo

Service Details

Last Rank
Colonel

Last Primary AFSC/MOS
21-Organization Commander

Last AFSC Group
Command and Control

Primary Unit
1973-1975, 21, 77th Air Base Wing

Service Years
1943 - 1975

Official/Unofficial US Air Force Certificates

Cold War Certificate

Lucky Bastard Club

Last Photo

Personal Details

Home State

Illinois

Year of Birth
1924

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Philip Johnson-Family to remember Heckel, Charles, Col USAF(Ret).

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Contact Info

Home Town Decatur, IL	Last Address 6705 Brookfield Rd Columbia, SC 29206
Date of Passing Sep 22, 2015
Location of Interment Fort Jackson National Cemetery (VA) - Columbia, South Carolina	Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 4, Site 1274

Official Badges

Air Training Command Instructor (pre-1966)

US Air Force Honorable Discharge (Old Style)

Unofficial Badges

Military Associations and Other Affiliations

91st Stratigic Reconnaissance Wing Association


	1946, Military Order of World Wars (MOWW)
	1947, Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) - Assoc. Page
	1950, Reserve Organization of America, Department of Illinois (Illinois)
	1956, 91st Stratigic Reconnaissance Wing Association
	1965, 9th Air Force Association
	1975, Air Force Memorial (AFM) - Assoc. Page
	2015, National Cemetery Administration (NCA)

Photo Album (More...)

65-1870

1967-1970, RF-4C Phantom II

From Year 1967	To Year 1970

Personal Memories

Not Specified

Image	RF-4C Phantom II Details
	Aircraft/Missile Information MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RF-4C PHANTOM II McDonnell Douglas RF-4C View All Media Next Image Download Fact Sheet Tools Printable Fact Sheet In the early 1960s, the USAF recognized the need for more tactical reconnaissance aircraft to reinforce the RF-101s then in service. The USAF chose a modification of the F-4C fighter. The RF-4C development program began in 1962, and the first production aircraft made its initial flight on May 18, 1964. The Air Force officially accepted a total of 499 RF-4Cs. The RF-4C can carry a variety of cameras in three different stations in its nose section. It could take photos at both high and low altitude, day or night. The RF-4C carried no offensive armament, although during the last few years of its service some were fitted with four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for defense. The 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron became the first operational unit to fly the RF-4C. In October 1965 that unit deployed to Southeast Asia to provide photographic reconnaissance of the growing conflict in South Vietnam. In the following years, RF-4Cs flew reconnaissance missions around the world, including Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990-1991. The Air Force retired all of its RF-4Cs by 1985. The RF-4C on display was delivered to the USAF on Sept. 9, 1965. It served in Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Europe, Cuba and the Middle East. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, this aircraft flew a total of 172 missions, more than any other F-4 aircraft. When flown to the museum in May 1994, it had more than 7,300 hours of flying time.