Carl A. Lindberg

Carl Albert Lindberg II passed away February 7th, 2005 in Moses Lake, Washington at the age of 85. 
He was born November 26th, 1919 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Carl Albert Lindberg and Emma Hervin Lindberg. 
He grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, joining the Minnesota National Guard (216th Coast Artillery) as a 
private in January 1941. 

He began his military flying career as an aviation cadet in 1942, receiving a commission and pilot 
rating in 1943. This career saw Carl beginning as a leather-helmeted cadet in an PT-17 open cockpit 
biplane and ended as a Command Pilot flying the Boeing Strato-Cruiser (C-97) and the Lockheed Super 
Constellation (RC-121). He flew fourteen different types of aircraft including 46 combat missions in 
WWII (in North Africa and Italy) in a B-25 based on Corsica, and 26 combat missions in Korea flying 
the B-26 Night Intruder.

His military accolades included two Distinguished Flying Crosses, seven Air Medals and three Commendation 
Medals. He was also proud of being criticized by Axis Sally during one of her radio broadcasts after he 
led a 72-plane mission over the Brenner Pass. One of his other WWII exploits was covered in a recent book 
(USS Corsica) about American airman flying out of Corsica. He enjoyed a range of assignments from teaching 
college ROTC, supervising Air Reserve training, and commanding three AC&W radar squadrons. These various 
assignments took him, his bride Helen, and growing family on 31 moves around the US and Canada. After 28 
years of service, Carl retired as a Lt. Colonel.

He then went on to spend his time improving and sharing the fruits of his labor from his woodworking, 
cooking, golf, hunting and fishing at his homes in Blaine, then Auburn and finally at the Potholes Reservoir 
(near Moses Lake, Washington ). 

There is now a great void in our family.  Carl has now joined that band of brothers from his generation 
laid to rest around the world who served and now belong to the ages.

He is survived by Helen Shaw Lindberg, his wife of 63 years; sister, Jean Lindberg Korby (Rev. Kenneth) of 
Port Angeles, WA; children, Carl (Garrel) of Shoreline, WA, Kathleen (Dave Skar) of Seattle, WA, Susan 
Lindberg Ecternkamp (Warren) of Moses Lake, WA, and Michael of Moses Lake, WA. Preceded in death was his 
sister Phyllis Lindberg.

Funeral services were held at the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA with military honors from the McChord 
AFB Honor Guard and a fly-over of three PT-17s from the Cascade Warbirds on; February 25th .  In lieu of 
flowers the family suggests a remembrance to the Disabled American Veterans organization, 
P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.