Charles C. Pattillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles C. "Buck" Pattillo
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"Buck" Pattillo, pictured as a Major General
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| Nickname(s) | Buck |
| Born | June 3, 1924 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 2019 (aged 94) Spotsylvania County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1981 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Deputy commander in chief, U.S. Readiness Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal Distinguished Unit Citation emblem with oak leaf cluster Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order 2nd Class French Croix de Guerre with palm |
Charles Curtis Pattillo (born June 3, 1924 – died May 20, 2019) was an important American Air Force leader. He was also known as Buck Pattillo. He reached the rank of lieutenant general in the United States Air Force.
He served as the deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Readiness Command. This group helps prepare and deploy U.S. military forces. He passed away in May 2019 when he was 94 years old.
Contents
Growing Up and Early Life
Buck Pattillo was born in June 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia. He had a twin brother, Cuthbert A. Pattillo, who was also a major general in the U.S. Air Force. They were born just seven minutes apart!
Buck finished high school in Atlanta in 1942. Later, he earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Colorado. He also got a master's degree in international affairs from The George Washington University.
Serving in World War II
In November 1942, Buck joined the United States Army Air Forces. This was the air branch of the U.S. Army during World War II. He trained to become a pilot. In March 1944, he earned his pilot wings and became a second lieutenant.
He then trained to fly P-40 planes. In November 1944, he went to Europe to fly combat missions. He was part of the 352nd Fighter Group, which was a unit of the Eighth Air Force. During his time with this group, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. These awards recognized his bravery and skill in the air.
After the War: A Long Career
After World War II ended, Buck left active duty in December 1945. He went to the Georgia School of Technology. While there, he continued to fly P-51 planes with the Georgia Air National Guard.
Joining the Skyblazers
In February 1948, Buck was called back to active military duty. He became a fighter pilot with the 31st Fighter Group. A few months later, he moved to Germany. There, he helped create the U.S. Air Forces in Europe aerial demonstration team. This team was called the Skyblazers.
Buck flew as the left wing pilot for the Skyblazers. He also sometimes flew as the alternate lead pilot. The Skyblazers performed amazing aerial shows in F-80 and F-84 aircraft. They flew in over 250 air shows across Western Europe, North Africa, Greece, and Turkey. For his excellent work with the Skyblazers, he received the Legion of Merit.
Flying with the Thunderbirds
In August 1952, Buck was assigned to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. In 1953, he helped create and then flew with the very first U.S. Air Force demonstration team. This famous team is known as the Thunderbirds. He flew as the left wing pilot for the Thunderbirds.
After his time with the Thunderbirds, he continued to serve in various roles. He became a squadron operations officer and then a squadron commander.
Leading Fighter Squadrons
From 1956 to 1959, Buck commanded tactical fighter squadrons in Louisiana. He flew F-84F and F-100D planes. His squadrons often traveled to Europe for training and missions.
Vietnam War Service
In March 1968, Buck went to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He served as the vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand. In July 1968, he took command of the wing. During this time, he flew 120 combat missions in F-4 Phantoms.
Later Leadership Roles
After Vietnam, Buck held several important leadership positions. In 1971, he became the deputy director for logistics for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. This role involved managing supplies and equipment for all military branches.
In 1973, he became the commander of the Lowry Technical Training Center. This center trained Air Force personnel. In 1975, he became the vice commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces.
Buck Pattillo was promoted to lieutenant general on March 1, 1979. He retired from the Air Force on June 1, 1981. He passed away at his home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia on May 20, 2019.
Awards and Recognition
Buck Pattillo was a highly decorated pilot. His military awards include:
- Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (with an oak leaf cluster)
- Legion of Merit (with three oak leaf clusters)
- Distinguished Flying Cross (with an oak leaf cluster)
- Air Medal (with 10 oak leaf clusters)
- Army Commendation Medal
- Distinguished Unit Citation emblem (with an oak leaf cluster)
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Republic of Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order 2nd Class
- French Croix de Guerre with palm
In 2000, Buck Pattillo and his twin brother, Cuthbert, were both honored. They were inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Plaque of Pattillo (right) and Cuthbert A. Pattillo at the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
