Charles F. Wright

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles F. Wright, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a B-26 attack bomber on a night attack mission against enemy forces in Korea on 4 January 1951. Upon reaching his target area, Captain Wright destroyed with bombs and rockets several buildings housing enemy supplies and 12 enemy vehicles. He then discovered an enemy train near Sunchon, Korea, and damaged it with his last two bombs and rockets. The train then pulled into a village where it was hidden by haze and darkness. Fully aware that he would attract hostile fire to his plane, Captain Wright turned on his aircraft’s landing lights and conducted a search at tree-top level until he located the damaged train. In spite of an intense concentration of small arms and automatic weapons fire, Captain Wright made repeated strafing attacks with landing lights on until the locomotive was destroyed and several boxcars set afire. The courage, relentless determination, and exemplary devotion to duty displayed by Captain Wright were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.