Bazooka Charlie

The Unbelievable Story of Major Charles Carpenter and Rosie the Rocketer

Author: James P. Busha and Carol Apacki

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A revealing biography of Lt. Col. Charles "Bazooka Charlie" Carpenter, a U.S. Army pilot who served in WWII and is most known for destroying several enemy armored vehicles in his bazooka-equipped L-4 Grasshopper light observation aircraft.

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Summary

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Major Charles Carpenter made headlines during the Second World War when he affixed six bazookas to his tiny Piper L-4 observation plane and began attacking German tanks. Bazooka Charlie and his plane Rosie the Rocketer were profiled in a variety of military and civilian publications, including the iconic Stars & Stripes. The major was a high school educator in the civilian world, teaching history and coaching football. Carpenter was talented, highly intelligent, and athletically gifted, but the war truly tested him. In 1945, the dashing pilot was forced out of the cockpit and into a hospital bed by Hodgkin's lymphoma, which was discovered in his neck. In addition to the enemy and terminal cancer, Carpenter also battled cynicism and guilt, particularly in regard to the state of his marriage, which was on the brink of failure by the time he returned home from Europe. Charles Carpenter died in 1966, having resumed his career, salvaged his marriage, and long outlived the timeline afforded him by his doctors in the initial prognosis. This revealing biography of the famous pilot was made possible through the collaboration of noted aviation author and magazine editor Jim Busha, and Carpenter's daughter, Carol Apacki. Along with memories of her father in his postwar years, Carol provided a treasure trove of wartime correspondence between Charles and his wife, Elda Carpenter. AUTHORS: Jim Busha has been writing historical aviation stories and books for over 20 years. A pilot for over 33 years, Jim currently flies a 1943 Stinson L-5 liaison aircraft. Jim is also the editor in chief of EAA Sport Aviation, Warbirds, and Vintage magazines. Carol Apacki is the only child of Charles and Elda Carpenter. Through her own childhood memories, as well as the boxes of letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs that her mom saved through the years, Carol provided the author, Jim Busha, with a rich stash of stories and resources about her father's war exploits and her parent's relationship during World War II. She and her husband, Ken, now retired, are also proud parents of five children and 13 grandchildren and reside in Granville, Ohio. SELLING POINTS: Major Charles Carpenter made headlines during the Second World War when he fixed six bazookas to his tiny Piper L-4 observation plane and began attacking German tanks Collaboration with the subject's daughter, Carol, produced a treasure trove of private wartime correspondence, along with firsthand stories from Carpenter's postwar career "Rosie," the actual aircraft that Carpenter flew in the war, was amazingly located in Austria and restored to flying condition by the Collings Foundation in 2020. 55 b/w photos

About the Author

Jim Busha has been writing historical aviation stories and books forover 20 years. A pilot for over 33 years, Jim currently flies a 1943Stinson L-5 liaison aircraft. Jim is also the editor in chief of EAA Sport Aviation, Warbirds, and Vintage magazines. Carol Apacki is the only child of Charles and Elda Carpenter. Throughher own childhood memories, as well as the boxes of letters, newspaperclippings, and photographs that her mom saved through the years, Carolprovided the author, Jim Busha, with a rich stash of stories andresources about her father’s war exploits and her parent’s relationshipduring World War II. She and her husband, Ken, now retired, are alsoproud parents of five children and 13 grandchildren and reside inGranville, Ohio.