Charles Loring

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	To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions. For the monthly nomination lists, see Category:Articles for deletion. Charles Loring Jr. (1918-1952) was a major in the United States Air Force, who, on 22 November 1952, was leading a flight against enemy firing on friendly grown forces during the Korean War. After his aircraft was hit while on a dive bombing run, changed his course, and deliberately crashed his F-80 Shooting Star into an enemy anti-aircraft artillery emplacement. A posthumous Medal of Honor was bestowed in recognition of the act. His previous decorations included a Distinguished Flying Cross and 12 Air Medals. Second World War Enlisting on March 16, 1942, he became an aviation cadet in May, training at Douglas Field, California; Greenville, Mississippi and Napier Field, Alabama. He was commissioned as a pilot in December 1942. Loring served at Maxwell Field, Alabama; Puerto Rico; and Charleston, South Carolina, before going to Europe in March 1944, with the 36th Fighter Group's 22nd Squadron He went to Europe fighter pilot with the 36th Fighter Group's 22nd Squadron, completing 55 combat missions before he was shot down and made a prisoner of war. Interwar Returning to the United States in June 1945, he was promoted to captain in October. He held staff assignments at Victoria and Foster Fields, Texas. Between 1946 and 1949, he attended the following schools: Army Exchange at Fort Oglethorpe, California; Adjutant General's and Army Information, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; and Air Tactical at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He taught at the Information School for two years. Korean War He went to Korea in May of 1952 with the 36th and 80th Squadrons, 8th Fighter Bomber Group. Loring Air Force Base He was born in Maine and entered the service from there in Loring Air Force Base, in Limestone, Maine, was named in his honor. The former Strategic Air Command (SAC) facility was closed by the BRAC process, but is being converted to a civilian facility. First scheduled for closing in 1976, due to the cost of renovating facilities, it finally closed in 1994, "it was the closest northeast base to the east of the Urals, to Europe and to the Middle East. Loring was a megabase, with enormous capacity, second in all of SAC, designed to support 100 B-36 bombers and large numbers of air refueling tankers. It was closed in 1994, but not before providing major support to the Gulf War/ Citation Born: 2 October 1918, Portland, Maine. Citation: Maj. Loring distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading a night of 4 F-80 type aircraft on a close support mission, Maj. 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, Maj. 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, Maj. 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. His selfless and heroic action completely destroyed the enemy gun emplacement and eliminated a dangerous threat to United Nations ground forces. Maj. Loring's noble spirit, superlative courage, and conspicuous self-sacrifice in inflicting maximum damage on the enemy exemplified valor of the highest degree and his actions were in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Air Force. References