Lt. Col. Charles "Bazooka Charlie" Carpenter (August 29, 1912 – March 22, 1966) was a United States Army officer and army observation pilot who served in World War II. He is most known for destroying several enemy armored vehicles in his bazooka-equipped L-4 Grasshopper light observation aircraft.[1]
Charles Carpenter
Charles Carpenter and his L-4 Grasshopper, Rosie the Rocketer (s/n 43-30426) mounting a trio of bazookas just outboard of the jury struts
Upon arriving in France in 1944, Carpenter was assigned an L-4 Grasshopper for artillery spotter role and reconnaissance missions. Assuming a 150-pound (68 kg) pilot and no radio aboard, the L-4H had a remaining cargo or passenger weight capacity of approximately 232 pounds (105 kg).[3][4] The additional weight of radio and radio operator often exceeded this limit. Inspired by other L-4 pilots who had installed bazookas as anti-tank armament on their planes, Carpenter added bazooka launchers to his plane as well.[4][5][6]
Within a few weeks, on September 20, 1944, during the Battle of Arracourt, Carpenter was credited with knocking out a German armored car and four tanks.[6] Carpenter's plane, bearing USAAF serial number 43-30426, was known as Rosie the Rocketer (a play on Rosie the Riveter), and his exploits were soon featured in numerous press accounts, including Stars and Stripes, the Associated Press, Popular Science, the New York Sun, and Liberty magazine. Carpenter once told a reporter that his idea of fighting a war was to "attack, attack and then attack again."[7]
After destroying his fifth enemy tank, Carpenter told a Stars and Stripes correspondent that the "word must be getting around to watch out for Cubs with bazookas on them. Every time I show up now they shoot with everything they have. They never used to bother Cubs. Bazookas must be bothering them a bit."[8][9]
By war's end, Major Carpenter had destroyed or disabled several German armored cars and tanks (he was officially credited with six tanks destroyed).[6]
Postwar serviceedit
In 1945, Carpenter became seriously ill and was diagnosed with Hodgkin disease. Doctors gave him 2 years to live. He received an honorable discharge. from the U.S. Army service in 1946. Thereafter, he returned to work as a history teacher at Urbana High School in Urbana, Illinois, where he worked and remained until his death in 1966 at the age of 53.[10]
Rosie the Rocketeredit
In October 2017, the same L-4H that then-Major Carpenter had flown in World War II was located at the Austrian Aviation Museum (German: Österreichisches Luftfahrtmuseum) at Graz Airport, and was acquired by the Collings Foundation for restoration to its World War II appearance by a restorer in La Pine, Oregon,[11] with the restoration reported as complete on July 4, 2020.[12] The aircraft is now on public display at the Collings Foundation's American Heritage Museum.
Referencesedit
^Gallagher, Wes, Charlie Fights Nazi Tanks in Cub Armed With Bazookas, The New York Sun, 2 October 1944
^"Bazooka Charles Goes After Nazis". Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. 1944-10-03. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
^Piper Cub Weight & Balance Calculation, retrieved 24 October 2011
^ abFountain, Paul, The Maytag Messerschmitts, Flying Magazine, March 1945, p. 90
^Francis, Devon E., Mr. Piper and His Cubs, Iowa State University Press, ISBN0-8138-1250-X, 9780813812502 (1973), p. 117
^ abc What's New in Aviation: Piper Cub Tank Buster, Popular Science, Vol. 146 No. 2 (February 1945) p. 84
^Gallagher, Wes, Major Charles Carpenter, Once History Teacher, Now Legend in Patton's Army, The Rock Island Argus, 26 September 1944
^The Stars and Stripes, Western Europe ed., Nancy Sector (France), (September 20–30, 1944)
^ Bazooka Charlie Becomes Tank Ace Today, Prescott Evening Courier, 11 October 1944, p. 2, retrieved 23 February 2015 from Google Books
^In Memoriam, Urbana High School Class of 1962, retrieved 23 October 2011
^Hogan, Jackson (March 9, 2019). "La Pine man restoring plane flown by 'Bazooka Charlie' in World War II". bendbulletin.com. The Bulletin (Bend, OR). Retrieved May 13, 2019. In 1944, U.S. Army pilot and artillery spotter [Major] Charles Carpenter was in France, fighting in the 4th Armored Division of Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army, when he had a crazy idea...Carpenter strapped three bazookas under each wing of his 1944 Piper L-4H, a frail reconnaissance plane not typically used for combat, flew over the German army and blasted multiple Panzer tanks and armored cars north of the town of Nancy. It earned him the nickname "Bazooka Charlie."...75 years later, the Piper L-4H — nicknamed "Rosie the Rocketer" — has found its way to a rural garage near La Pine, where it's being restored by a retired engineer.
^Hogan, Jackson (July 4, 2020). "La Pine man completes restoration of legendary WWII plane". bendbulletin.com. The Bulletin (Bend, OR). Retrieved September 7, 2020. After a year and a half of painstaking work, "Rosie The Rocketer," a WWII-era Piper L-4H airplane, has returned to its original 1944 condition, when it was outfitted with bazookas to blast Nazi tanks in France.
External linksedit
YouTube video detailing the history of "Bazooka Charlie's" anti-tank endeavors
"Charles Carpenter". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
January 01, 1970
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Rosie the Rocketer redirects here Not to be confused with Rosie the Rocketeer or Rosie the Riveter Lt Col Charles Bazooka Charlie Carpenter August 29 1912 March 22 1966 was a United States Army officer and army observation pilot who served in World War II He is most known for destroying several enemy armored vehicles in his bazooka equipped L 4 Grasshopper light observation aircraft 1 Charles CarpenterCharles Carpenter and his L 4 Grasshopper Rosie the Rocketer s n 43 30426 mounting a trio of bazookas just outboard of the jury strutsBorn 1912 08 29 August 29 1912Edgington Illinois USDiedMarch 22 1966 1966 03 22 aged 53 Champaign Illinois USNationalityAmericanOccupationTeacherMilitary careerNickname s Bazooka CharlieAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1942 1945RankLieutenant ColonelBattles warsWorld War II Contents 1 Early life and career 2 World War II service 3 Postwar service 3 1 Rosie the Rocketer 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career editCarpenter was born and raised in the town of Edgington Illinois He graduated from Centre College in Danville Kentucky 2 World War II service editUpon arriving in France in 1944 Carpenter was assigned an L 4 Grasshopper for artillery spotter role and reconnaissance missions Assuming a 150 pound 68 kg pilot and no radio aboard the L 4H had a remaining cargo or passenger weight capacity of approximately 232 pounds 105 kg 3 4 The additional weight of radio and radio operator often exceeded this limit Inspired by other L 4 pilots who had installed bazookas as anti tank armament on their planes Carpenter added bazooka launchers to his plane as well 4 5 6 Within a few weeks on September 20 1944 during the Battle of Arracourt Carpenter was credited with knocking out a German armored car and four tanks 6 Carpenter s plane bearing USAAF serial number 43 30426 was known as Rosie the Rocketer a play on Rosie the Riveter and his exploits were soon featured in numerous press accounts including Stars and Stripes the Associated Press Popular Science the New York Sun and Liberty magazine Carpenter once told a reporter that his idea of fighting a war was to attack attack and then attack again 7 After destroying his fifth enemy tank Carpenter told a Stars and Stripes correspondent that the word must be getting around to watch out for Cubs with bazookas on them Every time I show up now they shoot with everything they have They never used to bother Cubs Bazookas must be bothering them a bit 8 9 By war s end Major Carpenter had destroyed or disabled several German armored cars and tanks he was officially credited with six tanks destroyed 6 Postwar service editIn 1945 Carpenter became seriously ill and was diagnosed with Hodgkin disease Doctors gave him 2 years to live He received an honorable discharge from the U S Army service in 1946 Thereafter he returned to work as a history teacher at Urbana High School in Urbana Illinois where he worked and remained until his death in 1966 at the age of 53 10 Rosie the Rocketer edit In October 2017 the same L 4H that then Major Carpenter had flown in World War II was located at the Austrian Aviation Museum German Osterreichisches Luftfahrtmuseum at Graz Airport and was acquired by the Collings Foundation for restoration to its World War II appearance by a restorer in La Pine Oregon 11 with the restoration reported as complete on July 4 2020 12 The aircraft is now on public display at the Collings Foundation s American Heritage Museum References edit Gallagher Wes Charlie Fights Nazi Tanks in Cub Armed With Bazookas The New York Sun 2 October 1944 Bazooka Charles Goes After Nazis Lawrence Journal World Associated Press 1944 10 03 Retrieved 2020 05 09 Piper Cub Weight amp Balance Calculation retrieved 24 October 2011 a b Fountain Paul The Maytag Messerschmitts Flying Magazine March 1945 p 90 Francis Devon E Mr Piper and His Cubs Iowa State University Press ISBN 0 8138 1250 X 9780813812502 1973 p 117 a b c What s New in Aviation Piper Cub Tank Buster Popular Science Vol 146 No 2 February 1945 p 84 Gallagher Wes Major Charles Carpenter Once History Teacher Now Legend in Patton s Army The Rock Island Argus 26 September 1944 The Stars and Stripes Western Europe ed Nancy Sector France September 20 30 1944 Bazooka Charlie Becomes Tank Ace Today Prescott Evening Courier 11 October 1944 p 2 retrieved 23 February 2015 from Google Books In Memoriam Urbana High School Class of 1962 retrieved 23 October 2011 Hogan Jackson March 9 2019 La Pine man restoring plane flown by Bazooka Charlie in World War II bendbulletin com The Bulletin Bend OR Retrieved May 13 2019 In 1944 U S Army pilot and artillery spotter Major Charles Carpenter was in France fighting in the 4th Armored Division of Gen George S Patton s 3rd Army when he had a crazy idea Carpenter strapped three bazookas under each wing of his 1944 Piper L 4H a frail reconnaissance plane not typically used for combat flew over the German army and blasted multiple Panzer tanks and armored cars north of the town of Nancy It earned him the nickname Bazooka Charlie 75 years later the Piper L 4H nicknamed Rosie the Rocketer has found its way to a rural garage near La Pine where it s being restored by a retired engineer Hogan Jackson July 4 2020 La Pine man completes restoration of legendary WWII plane bendbulletin com The Bulletin Bend OR Retrieved September 7 2020 After a year and a half of painstaking work Rosie The Rocketer a WWII era Piper L 4H airplane has returned to its original 1944 condition when it was outfitted with bazookas to blast Nazi tanks in France External links editYouTube video detailing the history of Bazooka Charlie s anti tank endeavors Charles Carpenter Find a Grave Retrieved 2024 01 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Carpenter pilot amp oldid 1220920373, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
