Charles E. Landon

Charles Edward Landon, age 100 years and 8 months, of Oklahoma City, passed away peacefully on 28 December 2024 at his home. Charles was born on 27 April 1924 in Oklahoma City, the son of John Edgar Landon Jr. and Velma Beatrice (Seibert) Landon. Charles attended Edgemere Elementary School, Harding Middle School and Classen High School in Oklahoma City where he graduated in 1942. Sergeant Charles E. Landon proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, after being drafted on 08 March 1943 at the age of 18 while attending college at The University of Oklahoma. He attended Basic Training at Sheppard Field, Texas. He attended Basic Radio training in Chicago, Illinois. Advanced Radio Mechanic Training at Truax Field, Madison Wisconsin and Radar Technician Training in Boca Raton, Florida. Following the completion of his radar training in Florida, he boarded a troop transport to Africa and then on to a base in India. After 4 months in India working on the B-29 Superfortress assigned to the 462ND Bombardment Group, 768TH Bomb Squadron, Charles boarded another troop transport to Australia and then on to Tinian Island in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, continuing to work on the B-29 Bomber as a Radio & Radar Mechanic. While he was not directly involved with the special bombing mission, Charles was based on the opposite end of Tinian Island when the Enola Gay ‘Tibbetts’, (a B-29/Tail #44-86292), named and piloted by Col Paul Tibbets and his crew who departed the island on 06 August 1945 with a nuclear bomb code-named “Little Boy” and targeted the city of Hiroshima, Japan. On 09 August 1945, The Enola Gay participated in the second nuclear attack as a weather recon aircraft. Due to clouds & drifting smoke Nagasaki, Japan was bombed as a secondary target (Primary Target: Kokura, Japan).

During his WWII service, he is credited with Battle in the Air Offensive Japan, China, Central Burma, and Burma India Campaigns. He was deployed to Africa, India, and Tinian Island in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean (North Mariana Islands) where he earned the Army Good Conduct Medal. Charles served actively until 25 November 1945 when he was Honorably Discharged from Active Army Air Corps. He continued to serve in the Enlisted Reserve Corps in both the California and Oklahoma Army National Guard until his Honorable discharge on 22 June 1947.

After returning home from WWII, Charles returned to college at The University of Oklahoma for one semester. Due to his severe hay fever he relocated to California, where he attended The University of California, Berkley and built a career as a Real Estate and Insurance Agent, and was an active member of the community in Sacramento and El Sobrante, CA. He married his wife Betty (Sellers) Landon in 1950, and they remained married for 48 years until her death in 1998 after retiring to Hurst, Texas. He was known for being a very soft-spoken, humble yet honest Realtor/Insurance Agent, Husband, Brother, Uncle and Friend with an infectious smile. Charles enjoyed amateur photography and is responsible for many of the pictures included in a ‘Yearbook’ that documented the timeline of the 462ND Bombardment Group/768TH Bomb Squadron during WWII.

Following the death of his sister Pauline Johnson, he fondly made The Mansion at Waterford in Oklahoma City his home, where he continued to make countless more friends and celebrated his 100TH Birthday as a registered Centenarian of Oklahoma.

Charles is survived by his Niece Denise L. Hole and her husband Lieutenant Colonel Mark D. Hole (USAF Retired), his Nephew Todd E. Johnson (Jacqui and David), and Great Niece Jeri D. Hole (Cayden A. Ridgeway and Royce S. Ridgeway). He was preceded in death by his Father John E. Landon Jr. and Mother Velma B. (Seibert) Landon, his Wife Betty (Sellers) Landon and his Sister Pauline R. (Landon) Johnson.

A Funeral service for Charles will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors. Charles will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the scholarship foundation of The Will Rogers Air National Guard Retirees Association/The Gray Eagles, where he was a member.

Sergeant Charles Edward Landon will be forever remembered as a True American Hero from The Greatest Generation in US history, an American Patriot, and devoted husband. May his memory be a blessing, and may we honor his legacy through our own acts of unselfish service and unconditional love.