Charles Arthur Tabberer

Charles Arthur Tabberer, was born on December 18th, 1915 in Kansas City, Kansas. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve on October 12th, 1939 and was appointed to the position of aviation cadet on January 11th, 1940. Following flight training in Florida at Pensacola and Miami, cadet Tabberer was designated a naval aviator on November 1st. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve on December 12th. After further training at San Diego, California, he was ordered to report to Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-5) which was then assigned to the U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5). Ensign Tabberer served with VF-5 throughout his short naval career. Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on May 29th, 1942, his squadron was assigned to the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3) for the invasion of Guadalcanal in the southern Solomon Islands. Lieutenant Tabberer was one of 11 "Wildcat" (F4F) pilots lost when elements of the Japanese 25th Air Flotilla opposed the Guadalcanal invasion force on August 7th. Through the efforts of Tabberer and his comrades, the Japanese aerial forces were beaten back. For his sacrifice, Lieutenant Tabberer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, posthumously.