[Charles H. Older oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Charles H. Older is interviewed about his military service during World War II. In part one, he describes his experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time with the American Volunteer Group and with the United States Army Air Forces in the China-India-Burma Theater. Topics discussed include his service and training history, his missions in Burma and China, and his thoughts on various aircraft.

The interview is conducted by fellow fighter ace Eugene A. Valencia.

Charles H. Older was born on September 29, 1917 in Hanford, California. He joined the United States Marine Corps as an Aviation Cadet and completed his flight training in 1940. Initially assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 1 (VMF-1), Older opted to resign his commission in order to join the American Volunteer Group, then forming in Burma. He served with the AVG until the group disbanded in July 1942, after which he returned to the U.S. and joined the Army Air Forces. For his second combat tour, Older returned to China and served as group operations officer and deputy commander of the 23rd Fighter Group. After the end of World War II, Older joined the Air Force Reserve and went on to serve with the 452nd Bomb Wing during the Korean War. As a civilian, he pursued a law career and in 1967 became a superior court judge in Los Angles, California. In the early 1970s, he served as the presiding judge in the Charles Mason trial. Older passed away in 2006.