 General
Pattillo was born on June 3, 1924, in Atlanta Georgia.
He graduated from Georgia Technical High School in 1942
and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics
from the University of Colorado in 1962, as well as a Masters
degree in international affairs from George Washington
University in 1965.
In November 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps
as an aviation cadet. Following intensive training at
various bases in the southeastern training command, he
received his pilot wings and a commission as a Second
Lieutenant in March 1944. He next trained in the P-40
aircraft, then went to the European Theatre of Operations
where he flew combat missions with the 352nd Fighter
group, 8th Air Force. While with the 352nd Group, he
earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal
with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Pattillo was released from active duty in December 1945
and enrolled in the Georgia school of technology. There,
he actively participated in the reserve military program,
flying P-47 aircraft with the 128th Fighter Squadron,
54th Fighter Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard.
In February 1948, General Pattillo was recalled into
active military duty as a P-51 fighter pilot with the
31st Fighter Group, Turner AFB, Georgia. Eleven months
later, he was reassigned to the 22nd Fighter Squadron,
36th Fighter Group, Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany.
While at Furstenfeldbruck, Pattillo assisted in organizing
the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) aerial
demonstration team, the Skyblazers. He flew left wing
and alternate lead for the team as they demonstrated
their aerial skills in the F-80 and F-84 aircraft in
more than 250 air shows throughout Western Europe, North
Africa, Greece, and Turkey.” He was awarded the
Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious performance
with the Skyblazers.
In August 1952, Pattillo was assigned to the air training
command’s 3600th combat crew training group at
Luke AFB, Arizona. In 1953, he helped organize then flew
left wing for the original US Air Force demonstration
team, the Thunderbirds. In February 1954, he returned
to the 2600th combat crew training group to become Squadron
Operations Office Squadron Commander, and then Group
Operations Officer.
From July 1956 to August 1959, Pattillo served with
the 336th and then the 401st Tactical Fighter wings,
England AFB, Louisiana, as a Tactical Squadron Commander.
While at England AFB, he flew the F-84F and the F-100D.
His squadron participated in numerous deployments to
continental Europe as elements of the composite air strike
force and as a tactical rotational squadron. From September
1959 to January 1962, Pattillo attended the University
of Colorado.
He was then transferred to Langley AFB, Virginia, as
Chief Jet Fighter, Reconnaissance Division, 4442nd standardization
and evaluation group, Headquarters Tactical Air Command.
In August 1964, he entered the US Army War College, Carlisle
Barracks, Pennsylvania and simultaneously studied at
George Washington University Graduate School.
In August 1965, General Pattillo went to Germany where
he was assigned to Headquarters, 17th Air Force, Ramstein
Air Base, as a Director of Operations and Training. In
March 1967, he moved to Bitburg Air Base to command the
36th Tactical Fighter Wing and was an F-4 Phantom Pilot.
In March 1968, he went to Southeast Asia where he assumed
command of the wing in July 1968. He flew 120 combat
missions as an F-4 Phantom Pilot.
Pattillo went to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, in July 1969
as Vice Commander of the Oklahoma City material area.
In November 1971, he was assigned duty as Deputy Director
for Logistics (J4), Organization of the Joint Chiefs.
He became commander of the Lowry Technical Training
Center at Lowry AFB, Colorado, in September 1973 and
was appointed Vice Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces,
in September 1975.
Pattillo became Deputy commander in Chief, United States
Readiness Command, in March 1979. In October 1979,
he became Vice Director, joint deployment agency. In
January 1980, he served as both Vice Director, Joint
Deployment Agency and Deputy Commander in Chief, United
States Readiness Command.
 General Pattillo is a Command Pilot. His military decorations
and awards include: the Distinguished Service Medal with
one oak leaf cluster; The Legion of Merit with three
oak leaf clusters; The Distinguished Flying Cross with
one oak leaf cluster; The Air Medal with ten oak leaf
clusters; Army Commendation Medal; Distinguished Unit
Citation Emblem with one oak leaf cluster; Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service
Order, Second Class, and the French Croix de Guerre with
Palm.
He was promoted to the grade of Lieutenant General in
March 1979. He retired from active duty at MacDill AFB,
Tampa Florida, in June 1981. Pattillo and his wife, Bobbie,
have four Children, Deborah Ann, Cheri Leigh, Jon Scott,
and Charles C. Jr.
While they lived in Florida for 25 years, the Pattillos
moved to Spotsylvania, VA to be closer to their two sons.
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