MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly Jul '56 Charles William Brosius   NO. 16061  CLASS OF 1946 Died October 13, 1953, As a result of an aircraft accident at March AFB, Riverside, California, aged 28 years.

Chuck was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, on March fifteenth, 1925. He attended grade and high school in Kittanning, and enjoyed the warm home life and activities that are associated with those delightful years in any small town. During high school he conceived the dream of attending West Point. Upon graduation he entered Columbia Preparatory School in Washington, D. C., and realized his dream when he received an appointment and entered West Point in July 1943. While there he participated in many activities, following particular interests in lacrosse and debating. His sense of fun and strong understanding of human nature brought him many friends. His first class year he met Marion Burkhart, the girl he married the November following his graduation in 1946. From graduation he was sent to Enid, Oklahoma, then assigned to the 97th Bomb Group at Salina, Kansas.

I shall always feel that Chuck found his true calling when he came to March A.F.B., California, and started flying B-47 jet bombers. Previously at Salina and El Paso, due to his ability and skill in administrative capacities, he was utilized more as a staff officer than as an Aircraft Commander, which he much preferred. However, in 1951 the call went out in SAC for volunteers to become crew members on the sleek new jet bombers. Chuck heard the call and was one of the first to be accepted. After a year's intensive training to become qualified as a Navigator, Bombardier, and Radar Operator, he joined the 22nd Bomb Wing at March AFB, California. When we received the new airplanes it was love at first sight for him and the B-47. He enjoyed flying them tremendously and became one of the outstanding pilots in the Wing. 

In the intensive training period to become combat ready, we were required to fly frequently. However, no one in the Squadron flew as he did. Day after day he volunteered for flights in the airplane he so enjoyed flying. As his skill increased, it was recognized and he was made one of the first Instructor Pilots in the Wing in the new aircraft. He was as completely happy as any man I have ever known . . . with Marion, and their three lovely children, Jan, Peter, and Gretchen.

As busy as he was, he still found time to teach a Sunday School class, and during the week before the accident had worked helping "break ground" for the new Lutheran church.

On a local transition flight Chuck was instructing two other officers, one a classmate, Earl Poytress. The refueling portion of the mission was completed uneventfully and they returned to the field to make touch and go landings. The aircraft was light and in apparently good condition as no discrepancies were called in to the tower. After three normal touch and go landings, a fourth was made. The landing was normal and go around initiated. The aircraft took off, climbed two or three hundred feet, started a left turn and crashed about two miles from the field. The three men died instantly. The accident board was subsequently unable to determine the cause of the accident.

In Chuck's passing, the service lost a fine and promising officer, his fellow officers a splendid friend, and his family a tender and devoted husband and father.

Personal Eulogy