Charles W. Durr – Major, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

Of Sarasota, Florida, on September 23, 1997, of cancer.

He was born in Staten Island, New York, and moved to Sarasota in 1979 from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

An Air Force Major, he retired in 1979 after 23 years as an aircraft navigator. His flying career included three years Pacific duty with Saturn Airways and Braniff International; training civilian pilots in the new (1960’s) electronic navigation systems that ended the era of over-water civilian navigators.

Recalled to active duty in 1967, he served two Vietnam tours flying the C-130 Hercules as instructor navigator. His many foreign and United States decorations include six Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley F. Durr; one daughter, Julia A. Friedman of Kansas City, MO; three sons, Major Charles W. Durr, Jr. of Washington, DC, Sergeant First Class Patrick W. Durr of Colorado Springs, CO and Timothy J. Durr of Orlando, FL; four grandchildren; and one brother, John J. Durr of Citrus Hills, FL.

Interment with full military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery on October 20, 1997at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard