Charles Older

Charles Older. A decorated United States Army Air Forces fighter ace and later a prominent Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, he is best known for his combat service with the legendary Flying Tigers in China during World War II. After the war, he pursued a legal career, presiding over several high-profile cases, including the infamous Charles Manson murder trial. His life spanned two distinct fields of high-stakes duty, from the skies over Asia to the courtrooms of California.

Early life and education

Born in Hoopeston, Illinois, Older displayed an early interest in aviation. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he studied political science and participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). His education was interrupted by the growing global conflict, leading him to enlist in the United States Army Air Corps shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. This decision set him on a path that would quickly take him to the forefront of aerial combat in the Pacific Theater.

Military career

Older volunteered for the American Volunteer Group, famously known as the Flying Tigers, under the command of Claire Lee Chennault. Flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk from bases in Burma and China, he engaged Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft during the defense of the Burma Road. After the Flying Tigers were disbanded in 1942, he transferred to the United States Army Air Forces and served with the 23rd Fighter Group, the official successor unit. Older achieved ace status, credited with 10.25 aerial victories, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, and multiple Air Medals for his courage and skill in combat.

Post-war life and legal career

Following his military discharge with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Older returned to California to complete his education. He earned a law degree from the University of Southern California and began a private practice. In 1967, he was appointed as a judge to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Governor Ronald Reagan. His judicial career was marked by several notable proceedings, but he is most widely recognized for presiding over the 1970–71 trial of Charles Manson and his followers for the Tate–LaBianca murders. His firm handling of the chaotic and highly publicized trial was widely noted in the media.

Legacy and honors

Charles Older's legacy is bifurcated between his heroic wartime service and his impactful legal career. He is remembered in military history as a skilled fighter ace of the celebrated Flying Tigers, with his name recorded among the veterans of the China Burma India Theater. In legal circles, he is recalled as the stoic judge in one of the most sensational criminal trials of the 20th century. His honors include his combat decorations and a lasting place in the histories of both World War II aviation and the judiciary of California.

Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:American fighter aces Category:California judges