Victoria, Virginia

Inducted in 1994, Charles W. Bing soloed in 1938 at age sixteen in Blackstone, Virginia. He joined the RAF in 1941 and then transferred to the Army Air Forces when the United States entered the war. He earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for 69 round trips over the “Hump” in the China-Burma-India Theater. After WWII he flew in numerous air shows and air races and established the famous fastest lap in the 1948 Soho Races of over 395 mph in “Woody” Edmondson’s P-51. He operated several charter operations including Fairways Corporation in Washington, D.C. which specialized in charter flights for government VIPs. Bing promoted Virginia aviation throughout his career and was one of the founders of the Virginia Aviation Trades Association. When he retired from aviation he had logged over 21,000 flight hours.