BRIGADIER GENERAL CHARLES W. LENFEST
Retired
November 01,1969
Died August 09,2006
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Brigadier General Charles W. Lenfest is deputy director of plans for war plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Born in Caldwell, Idaho, General Lenfest graduated from high school at Boise, Idaho in 1938. He was a member of the Idaho National Guard and entered the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1939. He graduated from Advanced Pilot Training at Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga., in 1942 and returned to the USMA for graduation and commission as a second lieutenant Jan. 19, 1943.
In July 1943 General Lenfest went overseas with the 354th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, where he flew 81 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations as a P-47 and P-51 pilot during two tours of operation. He was credited with nine victories and was a prisoner of war in Germany from October 1944 to April 1945. In 1945 he was assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Command, Biggs Field, Texas, and in September 1946 he enrolled in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he did graduate work in engineering for one year.
His next assignment was to the USMA, West Point, N.Y. as an instructor in the Department of Mechanics.
In July 1950 General Lenfest attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and upon graduation was assigned to the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing, Turner Air Force Base, Ga. In July 1952 General Lenfest led the 309th Fighter Squadron in the first Pacific Ocean crossing by jet fighter aircraft. In July 1953 he became chief, Plans and Training Section, A-3 Division, TUSAFG, Ankara, Turkey.
Upon his return from overseas, General Lenfest was assigned to Headquarters ARDC, Baltimore, Md., and Andrews Air Force Base where he was in charge of the Air Defense and Guided Missile Systems Division.
He departed Andrews Air Force Base in August 1958 for assignment to the Air War College as a student officer; and after graduation became the chief, Command Plans Branch, Force Plans Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In 1961 General Lenfest was assigned to J-5 Joint Staff JCS.
General Lenfest left the Pentagon in August 1963 for an assignment with Pacific Air Forces in the Directorate of Plans at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where he later became the director of plans.
General Lenfest was assigned in August 1966 to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as the deputy director of plans for war plans, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters; Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Croix de Guerre with Silver Gilt Star (France); and Polish Cross of Valor (Polish).
(Current as of Jan. 31, 1968)