Charles Wesley Sullivan was born on June 15, 1893, in Peoria, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois and served as a private, 311th Trench Mortar Battery, and private first class in the Aviation Section, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, September 6, 1917, to May 9, 1918. On that same date, May 9, 1918, he was appointed a second lieutenant, Aviation Section, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, and on July 1, 1920, was commissioned a second lieutenant, Air Service, in the Regular Army.
SERVICE
From September 1917 to January 1918 he attended the School of Military Aeronautics at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, then was assigned to Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, to complete his flying training. He then served as a student pilot and later as a Squadron Supply Officer of the 96th Aero Squadron at Brooks Field and Ellington Field, Texas, from May 1918 until March 1920.
He was assigned to the Air Service Mechanics School at Kelly Field, Texas, the following April and subsequently moved with the Air Service Mechanics School to Chanute Field, Illinois. He became Post Adjutant, Chanute Field, in February 1921, and the following April resumed his duties at the Air Service Mechanics School, Chanute Field. He joined the 12th Observation Squadron at Fort Bliss, Texas, in October 1921 and in November 1923 he became Engineering Officer, 7th Observation Squadron, at France Field, Panama Canal Zone. He was designated Squadron Operations Officer in December 1925.
Returning to the United States, he was assigned to Brooks Field, Texas, as Flying Instructor at the Air Corps Primary School in November 1926. In July 1928 he was transferred to the Office, Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C., for duty in the Training and Operations Division. Detailed to the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1932, he was graduated in June 1933. The following July he joined the 19th Bombardment Group at Rockwell Field, Coronado, California. He became Technical Supervisor, Rockwell Air Depot Control Area, Rockwell Field, California, in February 1934. His next assignment was to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in September 1938, where he was graduated from the Command and General Staff School in June 1939. He again was assigned to duty in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps, Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief, Inspection Division, from July 1939 to August 1941.
He then became Assistant Air Inspector, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., and in June 1942 was designated Chief, Air Section, Inspection Division, Office of the Inspector General, Washington, D.C. In May 1943 he was named Chief, Air Transport Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Material, Maintenance, and Distribution, Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C. In November 1943 he was transferred to Headquarters, Training Command, Fort Worth, Texas. The following May he became Air Inspector there. (Assignments current as of June 5, 1945)
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private, 311th Trench Mortar Battery and Private First Class, Aviation Section Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, September 6, 1917, to May 9, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Aviation Section Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, May 9, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1920; Captain, June 1, 1932; Major (temporary), August 26, 1936, Major, September 1, 1939; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), December 30, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., June 12, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, January 4, 1942; Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 3, 1943; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 30, 1945; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; retired in the grade of Brigadier General, June 30, 1953.