Major General Charles Sweeney
Major General Charles Sweeney
Major General Charles Sweeney
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Major General Sweeney was a North Quincy High School grad, who went on to attend Boston University and Purdue. In 1941, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served our country until 1976. General Sweeney played an influential role in the conclusion of World War II, as he piloted the B-29 Superfortress bomber over Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. He completed more than 5,000 military flying hours and became a highly decorated soldier. The awards he received include, but are not limited to, the Silver Star, the Air Medal, the National Defense Medal, two Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Major General Sweeney later moved to Milton until he passed away in 2004 at the age of 84.
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Years of Service: 1941-1976
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Raised in the North Quincy neighborhood of Quincy
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Silver Star, Air Medal, National Defense Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with two bronze stars, WW II Victory Medal, Occupation of Japan Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, AF Longevity Medal, and the Massachusetts Military Service Medal
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1958: Became the Wing Commander of the 102nd Fighter Wing in the Massachusetts Air National Guard
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1957: Advanced in rank to Brigadier General
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1945: Became the commander of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, a B-29 unit that trained with Col. Tibbetts for the Top Secret “Silver Plate” project for the upcoming atomic bombing missions
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1941: Joined the US Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet
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Died 2004
Oil Portrait on Canvas by Quincy Resident Artist David Wang
