The conclusion of Operation Powerflite at March Field. Three B-52's flew around the world, in an operation designed by Curtis LeMay to show we could hit any target in the world. I was good friends for a longtime with Lt Col Charles W Fink, commander of the lead aircraft "The Lonesome George". Visits to his beautiful home in Merced on my trips up north were always filled with him proudly showing the articles written about him and his great collection of memorabilia. He flew B-24s with the 15th in WWII over Ploesti, then postwar the B-50 and 47 before transitioning to the B-52. He retired as an instructor pilot at Castle with the rank of Lt Col. in 1968. When the museum got it's B-47 there was a possibility that Fink would have been one of the flight crew before it was decided to have an active duty AF personell fly the airplane. I have seen footage of Fink taxying the airplane. Cool stuff!!!!
Sadly, around 98 Fink ran into some personal problems that led to us losing touch. I really miss the friendship, I talked to him last in 1999. He was a volunteer at the Castle AFB museum where he flew out of for many years. About a year ago I was watching a show on history channel and saw footage of Fink landing the George and getting a medal pinned on him by LeMay. I hope he is still around, not a week goes by I don't think about him. He was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997.
JH
Born November 8, 1922 on a farm two miles south of Deloit, Iowa, in Crawford County, Charles Fink was introduced to flying as a teenager. He picked corn by hand to earn money for flying lessons, soloing on March 22, 1942. In 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program and became the youngest B-24 bomber pilot in the European Theater during World War II. He completed 35 missions in 6 months. Joining the Air Force Reserve Unit in Nebraska after the war, he was called for active duty for the Korean War in 1951. In 1957 a secret mission, “Operation Power Flite” was launched to prove to the world the U.S. had intercontinental bombing capabilities. Three B-52s were assigned to the mission with Captain Fink commander of the “Lonesome George” jet aircraft. The 45 hour, 19 minute flight on January 16-18, 1957, was the first non-stop jet flight around the world. Each crew member received the Distinguished Flying Cross and also the McKay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. Chuck lives today in California. Chamberlin-Fink Field at the Denison Airport was named after Chuck and fellow Hall of Famer, Clarence Chamberlin.
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