Charles G. Maynard

CHARLES G. MAYNARD (COLONEL, USAF (RET)
Colonel Maynard passed away Monday, December 23, 2019. Charles G Maynard was born in North Tonawanda, NY, on July 12, 1930, the only child of William Cecil Maynard and Leila (Miller) Maynard. He attended school in North Tonawanda and graduated from NT High School in 1948. He graduated from the Academy of Aeronautics in New York City in 1950. In October 1950, he enlisted in the Air Force. In June 1954, he received his commission as a 2nd Lt. In 1956, he completed flight training and subsequently was assigned to the 371stBomb Squadron, Lincoln, NB where he flew the B-47 bomber. In 1963, he was promoted to Major in a (below the zone promotion) and went to Maxwell AFB to attend the Air Command and Staff College. Following that he attended B-52 transition school at Castle AFB in Merced, CA. His next assignment was Minot AFB, ND where he flew the B-52H aircraft and advanced to instructor in the Standardization Division in the Fifth Bomb Wing. (In North Dakota, his motto was: When it’s too cold for everyone else, it’s just right for me.)
In April 1969, he volunteered for the Cessna 0-1, a FAC aircraft, to be stationed in Vietnam. After arriving in Tay Ninh, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and became the Air Liaison Officer for the division. During his year in Vietnam, he was privileged to fly 517combat missions in the 0-1 aircraft, and later he flew numerous combat missions in the B-52D from Guam over North Vietnam. As a result, he was awarded seventeen (17) Air Medals, three (3) Meritorious Service Awards, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Legion of Merit. He also received several awards from the Republic of Vietnam.
His next assignment was to McCoy AFB, Orlando, FL. where he was the Chief of Operations and Training. Before he knew it, he was on the go again with a 17-hour flight to Guam. Subsequently, after several tours in Guam, he became the Commander of the 63rd Bomb Squadron. One of his most proud moments was serving as the airborne commander for the B-52D aircraft in the bombing mission of Hanoi, Vietnam. He returned to McCoy AFB but he soon was transferred to Plattsburgh AFB, NY as the Vice Wing Commander. He also qualified to fly the KC-135 Tanker Aircraft and the FB-111 Fighter Aircraft. After a short assignment to SAC Hq, as the Asst Deputy Director of Tactics, he retired from the Air Force in 1979. He served his nation with distinction and honor—loyalty, honesty, integrity, faithfulness and aviation intelligence.
Then he went to work at Eastern Airlines where he was an instructor in the A-300. After Eastern Airlines closed, and never wanting to be idle, he went to work as an Aviation Insurance Adjustor for Sample International Aviation in Ormand Beach, FL. He held that position until he was forced to retire due to an injury. Red had an immense love of anything connected to aviation and he enjoyed flying and he enjoyed teaching others to fly. He was still flying for the fun of it until he was past 80 years old.
Colonel Maynard is survived by his wife of 60 years (Benita Poppe) and two sons, William Charles and Mark Allan and two grandchildren, Madison and Kyle Maynard, one nephew, Brian Funk (Grace) and one great nephew, Eric Funk. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will take place from noon till 2 PM Monday, Dec 30, 2019 at the Stanfill Funeral Home, 10545 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33156. He loved God, family, country and Flying.