Charles David Schoonover

Lieutenant Commander
RVAH-9, CVW-14, USS RANGER
United States Navy
18 September 1931 - 16 January 1966
Indianapolis, Indiana
Panel 04E Line 075

USS RANGER RA-5C RVAH-9
Naval Aviator

Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign
Charles D. Schoonover

The database page for Charles David Schoonover

01 Jul 2004

Although Charlie entered our hectic world in the State of Kentucky, he soon moved to the Hoosier State where he spent the rest of his pre-Annapolis days. He spent his younger days building model airplanes and hotrods and occasionally attended Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis. He next took a year of engineering at the local drive-ins and gin mills around Purdue University. Entering the turmoil of the Naval Academy was a drastic change from Charlie's usual easy going existence. He soon learned how to continue living under his motto, "Never do anything unless absolutely necessary; it requires energy." Here at Canoe U he was a member of the Model Club, played football for the first battalion, and was a frequent member of the extra instruction and E. D. squads. We will all remember Charlie for his winning smile and his easy-going, good-natured disposition.
  • FOOTBALL - 3, 2, 1
  • TRACK - 3
  • VOLLEYBALL - 4
  • JUICE GANG - 4
  • FOREIGN LANGUAGES CLUB - 3
  • ENGINEERING CLUB - 3, 2, 1
  • MODEL CLUB - 4, 3, 2, 1

"The Lucky Bag, 1954" (USNA Yearbook)

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A Note from The Virtual Wall

Two aviators from RVAH-9 embarked in USS RANGER were killed in a landing accident after returning from a photo recon mission over South Vietnam. RANGER was operating about 60 miles off the Mekong Delta when RA-5C (BuNo 149312) "boltered" - i.e., failed to engage an arresting wire while landing. When the pilot applied full power, the starboard engine exploded and the aircraft went into the water. The two crewmen were
  • LCDR Charles D. Schoonover, pilot, and
  • ENS Hal T. Hollingsworth of Grace, Indiana, recon navigator.




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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009