Charles Trovilla Myers

Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force

Charles Trovilla Myers was born on 10 February 1900 in Mannington, WV. He attended Virginia Military Institute for a year before attending the U.S. Military Academy from 13 June 1919 to 12 June 1923. While a cadet at West Point, he was a member of the varsity football teams in 1921 and 1922. Ranked number 113 in his class, Myers graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps.

Myers was a student officer at the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, TX, from September of '23 until March '24. He then attended the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, TX, graduating 13 September 1924. He served as a Flying Instructor at Brooks Field from 1924-29 and received a promotion to First Lieutenant on 6 March 1928.

He went to Nichols Field in the Philippines during the summer of 1929 as a Squadron Officer with the 28th Bombardment Squadron. On 20 July 1931, he returned to Brooks Field as an Instructor, and moved to Randolph Field, TX, also as an Instructor, three months later. He became a student at the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, AL, in August 1937, and graduated a year later. He was then assigned as an Instructor with the 27th Division Aviation, Miller Field, NY, and in 1939 was an Instructor with the 103d Observation Squadron, New York National Guard, also at Miller Field.

In November 1940, Myers was assigned as Director of Flying at Goodfellow Field, TX, and, in 1941, became the Director of Training there. Later in '41, he became Director of Training, Gulf Coast U.S. Army Air Forces Training Center, at Randolph Field; in 1942, he was elevated to Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Training (A-3) at the Center. He later served as Chief of the Plans and Training Section, Central Flying Training Command.

Myers became Commanding General of the 77th Flying Training Wing at Foster Field, TX, in December 1943. A year later, he was named Chief of Staff of the Twelfth Air Force, in Italy; he became its Commanding General in 1945. In December 1945, he was named as Commanding General of the 33rd Flying Training Wing and became Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces Flying Division of the Air Training Command, at Randolph Field, in 1946. In March 1947, he assumed additional duty as Chief of Staff of the Flying Division.

In May 1947, Myers went to Fuchu, Japan, as Chief of Staff of the Far East Air Materiel Command. That October, he was named Commanding General of the 316th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy), at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The following summer he was appointed Commanding General of the First Air Division, Far East Air Forces (re-designated Thirteenth Air Force in December 1948).

Myers was transferred to Mitchel AFB, NY, in May 1949, as Vice Commander of the Continental Air Command. On 1 January 1951, the Air Defense Command was reactivated at Ent AFB, CO, with Myers as its Vice Commander. In 1952, Myers was named Commanding General of the Northeast Air Command, at Pepperrell AFB, Newfoundland. On 26 July 1954, Myers assumed command of the Air Training Command at Scott AFB, IL, where he remained until his retirement from active duty in 1958.

Lieutenant General Charles Trovilla Myers was rated as a Command Pilot, Combat Observer and Aircraft Observer.

Medals and Awards

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
French Legion of Honor

Badges

Command Pilot Badge

Death

Lieutenant General Charles Trovilla Myers died on 27 September 1976. His burial site is unknown.