[Charles M. Kunz oral history interview]

Fighter ace Charlie M. Kunz is interviewed about his military service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) and Marine Fighting Squadron 224 (VMF-224) in the Pacific Theater. Topics discussed include his training and service history, his participation in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, and his time stationed at Henderson Field in Guadalcanal.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. Audio may be difficult to hear in some spots due to background noise from passing airplanes.

Charles M. Kunz was born on November 7, 1919 in Dixon, Missouri. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1941 and graduated from Naval flight training in September of that year. Initially assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221), Kunz participated in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, then joined the newly formed Marine Fighting Squadron 224 (VMF-224) for the Guadalcanal Campaign. In 1944, he took command of Marine Fighting Squadron 311 (VMF-311), flying missions in the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. Kunz remained in the military after World War II and served in a number of command positions, including commanding Marine Fighter Squadron 323 (VMF-323) during the Korean War. He retired as a colonel in 1967 and passed away in 1999.