Charles Kapuscak served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He was “officially grounded by a car accident in 1963, but he resisted being medically discharged and in 1965 volunteered for a Vietnam assignment, flying missions whenever his friends had an open cockpit.”(1)
Source: (1) The Morning Call
Charles Kapuscak, USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on July 24, 2009.
Charles Kapuscak, 81, of Glendale, AZ went to teach the Angels how to fly formation on July 24, 2009. Born on October 16, 1927 to Andrew and Catherine Kapuscak in Northampton, he was the youngest of 10 children.
In World War II, at age 17, he enlisted in the Navy and was a Machinists Mate for four years. In 1950 he declined to re-enlist in the Navy, was accepted as an Air Cadet and earned his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the fledgling Air Force.
Kap immediately went to Korea where he flew 100 combat missions, earned 3 Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Over the rest of his flying career he amassed more than 5,500 hours of single-seat, single engine fighter time in the F-80, F-84, F-86, F-100 and some seldom discussed time in the C-47 and Beechcraft Expediter. Although officially grounded by a car accident in 1963, he resisted being medically discharged and in 1965 volunteered for a Vietnam assignment, flying missions whenever his friends had an open cockpit.
In 1963, while stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England, he met and married the love of his life, Miss Sharon Nelson of London. He would joke that he had to go a long way to find her. Together, they had one son, Andrew, who gave them a wonderful daughter-in-law, Signey and two beautiful and clever grand-daughters, Charlotte and Emily. While the car accident ended his flying career, it never ended his love of flying or traveling. Sir Charles will always be remembered for his gruff exterior and tender heart; he never asked what can I do, he simply saw what was needed and did it. Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;…Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Survivors: Charles will be forever loved and missed by Sharon, Andrew, Signey, Charlotte, Emily, his sister, Pauline, family and friends everywhere.
The Morning Call August 2009
