Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1952 Lucky Bag:

Charles Robert Troppman

C. R. Troppman, otherwise known as “Tropp” hails from the country where apple is king, Wenatchee, Washington. Four years of fencing, the same length of time on the Public Relations Committee, plus three years sailing dinghies, show that Chuck was one of the “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed boys.” Tropp qualified for a sailing command youngster year. Always ready to laugh before and after a P-work, Chuck won himself a place of honor with his shipmates. A year at Wenatchee J. C. helped him through his first year at the Academy, but novels and letter-writing have kept Jacob Reed from parting with a set of stars for this “salt.” His little black book attests his prowess with women.

---

He was also a recipient of an “E Award.”

Loss

Charles was lost on March 9, 1955 when the H-19B helicopter he was piloting crashed “about 10 minutes after taking off from Fuerstenfeldbruck Air Base for its base in Frankfurt on a routine training flight.” The three other crewmen aboard were also killed.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Charles had been recently assigned officer in charge of Pararescue Missions at Rhine-Main Air Base in Germany.

As a senior Eagle Scout, he and 23 others went on an eight-day, 75-mile hike into the Pasayten area above the Methow in the State of Washington. They left from Hart pass with backpacks limited to 35 pounds. They told of hiking through snowstorms and finding camp water buckets frozen over.

In spring 1946, he was vice president of the Debate Club at Wenatchee High School. He graduated in 1947: Junior Council, Senior Council, thespian in “The Barretts,” and “All Through the Night,” Wa Wa Representative, Wa Wa Staff (snapshots), Latin Club, Debate Club, Honor Society, Movie Operator. Ambition: To be or not —!

Charles married Gladys Hunter on April 4, 1953, at Reese Air Force Base Chapel, Lubbock, Texas. Charles was stationed at the base at the time.

He was survived by his wife, their one-month old daughter Terry Ann, his mother and siblings Arthur, Viola and Walter.

He is buried in Washington.

Photographs

From ancestry.com