Major Charles J. Loring Memorial
Headhunters
About a week ago I received an email from a gentleman named Paul Ray about the dedication of a memorial being erected to immortalize Major Loring’s sacrifice. His father, Frank H. Ray, was flying with Major Loring on the close air support sortie on November 22, 1952. That was the day that Major Loring perished in an extreme act of heroism, posthumously earning himself the Medal of Honor. This is the excerpt from the National Museum of the Air Force and his Medal of Honor citation.
“Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., United States Air Force, a member of the 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Sniper Ridge, North Korea on 22 November 1952. While leading a flight of four F-80 type aircraft on a close-support mission, Major Loring was briefed by a controller to dive-bomb enemy gun positions which were harassing friendly ground troops. After verifying the location of the target, Major Loring rolled into his dive bomb run. Throughout the run, extremely accurate ground fire was directed on his aircraft. Disregarding the accuracy and intensity of the ground fire, Major Loring aggressively continued to press the attack until his aircraft was hit. At approximately 4,000 feet, he deliberately altered his course and aimed his diving aircraft at active gun emplacements concentrated on a ridge northwest of the briefed target, turned his aircraft 45 degrees to the left, pulled up in a deliberate, controlled maneuver, and elected to sacrifice his life by diving his aircraft directly into the midst of the enemy emplacements.”
The dedication ceremony will occur in the city of Douglas, Georgia at the historic WWII flight training base on November 22, 2024, 72 years to the date of his fateful mission. I would encourage any Headhunter in the area to show support for one of our most decorated alumni. Below is the flyer from the City of Douglas.
WiG
Bryan “Cage” Zumbro
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