Grouping of Colonel Charles Munroe

[LYONSJ9]

The Grouping of Colonel Charles Munroe

 

Among many other things: Renowned Pilot, Laboratory Director of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Commanding Officer of Howard Field and the Panama Air Depot, Executive Officer of USAF Material HQ, and participant in one of the most interesting and least discussed aspects of WWII.

 

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1905 to a well respected family, Charles excelled at Mathematics, Science, and Physics at a young age. His academic prowess would eventually earn him acceptance into the prestigious Carnegie Institute of Technology where he would earn a Bachelors of Science in Works Management in 1928.

 

Being a young recent graduate looking for adventure, Munroe decided he might find it as an aviator in the US Army, and in the fall of 1928, he promptly joined and attended flight school, receiving top marks and graduating 11 months later.

 

After distinguishing himself early in his career and after performing laboratory direction duties and holding various commands stateside and in the Panama Canal Zone, the ongoing Second World War would provide new opportunities for the young aviator to quench his thirst for travel and adventure.

 

Due to the knowledge of the Spanish language he gained in Panama, Munroe became one of a handful of US Military Officers sent to Peru under the orders of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to negotiate the trade of Peruvian Cotton, Petroleum, and Minerals for the Allied war effort in 1943.

 

In order to accomplish this, strong negotiations took place whereby the United States agreed to accept Peruvian claims to Ecuadorian land gained through its victory the 1940 Peruvian/Ecuador War, to send US Military personnel to Peru to offer training to its armed forces, and to offer lucrative trade agreements that would last long after the conclusion of the conflict.

 

Though Colonel Munroe’s roles in this endeavor are not quite clear, he most definitely had a large impact upon its success due to the caliber of the awards the Peruvian government bestowed upon him. For his services in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Peru, Munroe was awarded the Commander grade to the Military Order of Ayacucho and the Aeronautical Cross 1st Class.

 

After the war, Colonel Munroe continued his distinguished Air Force Career in several high profile roles, including as Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C., Wing Commander of Far East Air Forces (where he was charged with supply and maintenance support of UN forces during the Korean War, and as Chief of the Air Force’s Industrial Resources Division before retiring after 30 years of service in 1958.

 

After retirement, Colonel Munroe would lead an incredibly long life, passing away in 2002 at the age of 96 after filling his over 44 years of retirement as a Professor at Gulf Coast College and as a community leader in his adopted hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

 

His awards include:

 

The Legion of Merit (with Oakleaf Cluster), Army Commendation Ribbon (with Oakleaf Cluster *not present) American Defense Medal (with Foreign Service bar), American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Korean Service Medal, Commander of the Peruvian Military Order of Ayacucho, and the Peruvian Aeronautical Cross 1st Class.

 

 

Award Documents:

 

 

Other paperwork:

 

 

Photos:

 

 

There’s countless other photos and documents in this group, but there’s no way I could post them all on here. I have shared the over 30 additional photos and docs to numerous Facebook groups though. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

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[aerialbridge]

Great medal and paper group and nice write up.  Those Peruvian awards must be uncommon for US recipients.   Thanks for taking the time to photograph and post. 

[LYONSJ9]

Great medal and paper group and nice write up.  Those Peruvian awards must be uncommon for US recipients.   Thanks for taking the time to photograph and post. 

Thank you! There was a lot of other photos and etc I had photographed, but if I were to share all of them, I’d probably be over my photo allotment for the month.

In terms of rarity, the only other American I’ve seen with the Aeronautical Cross was Admiral McCain Sr. I’m really excited to have this grouping.


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[KASTAUFFER]

outstanding documents!

 

Kurt

[manayunkman]

Very impressive.

[katieony]

A really interesting and historic group!

[scottplen]

Very nice 

[jmar]

Such a well documented group, and with original paperwork and photos. Fantastic to see and most enjoyable, thank you very much for posting it!

 

Best to you!

 

Joe

[aerialbridge]

In frame #1, the studio portrait of him kind looks like the Ayacucho head minus the sideburns.

[LYONSJ9]

Thank you guys!


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