A Homecoming 82 Years in the Making for WWII Hero Charles McCook
Georgetown, TX (August 5, 2025) — Recently, the skies above Georgetown, Texas, reverberated with honor and remembrance as a local hero returned home. On August 2, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Highland Lakes Squadron and Devil Dog Squadron fulfilled a sacred mission: to welcome home First Lt. Charles Woodruff “Woody” McCook, an American hero lost for more than eight decades.
McCook, born and raised in Georgetown, served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a pilot of a B-25 Mitchell bomber in the 22nd Bombardment Squadron, 341st Bombardment Group, 10th Air Force. On August 3, 1943, during a low-level mission over Burma, McCook’s aircraft was hit by enemy fire and caught fire. In a final act of courage, he climbed to a higher altitude, giving two of his crewmates a chance to escape. They parachuted to safety, survived as prisoners of war, and lived to tell of the selflessness of McCook and three others, who did not survive the crash. For decades, McCook was listed as missing in action. His unidentified remains were recovered in 1947 and buried anonymously at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. It wasn't until April 2024, thanks to modern DNA testing by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, that his identity was confirmed, finally bringing resolution to his family and community.
Georgetown turned out in force to welcome its native son. A solemn procession, coordinated by VFW Post 8587 with support from the City of Georgetown, Southwestern University, local veteran organizations, and the Commemorative Air Force, made its way through the courthouse square. Lining the route were 82 full-size flags—one for each year McCook had been missing—courtesy of the Georgetown Rotary Club’s Field of Honor Committee.
In the skies above, Falcon Flight honored him with the timeless Missing Man Formation. Moments later, the roar of radial engines echoed as the CAF’s B-25 Devil Dog—the same aircraft type McCook piloted—flew over the city in tribute. On the ground, members of the CAF Highland Lakes and Devil Dog Squadrons stood with pride, a testament to the CAF’s mission to honor American military aviation and the people who served.
More than an airshow organization, the Commemorative Air Force preserves not just historic aircraft, but the stories of those who served aboard them. The homecoming of McCook was made possible by the dedication of CAF members like Bob Michie and Tom Horton, Ed Holley, Tina Bonorden, Dave Bachmann, Felicia Reynolds, Tim Reynolds, Rob Chalmers, Barbara Chalmers, Mike Jones, and other members of the Devil Dog Squadron.
Together, they ensured McCook’s final flight was one of honor, reflection, and deep gratitude. Their actions brought history to life—not in textbooks, but in the skies above and the streets below.
Lt. McCook was laid to rest with full military honors at Georgetown’s IOOF Cemetery, beside his parents. The ceremony marked the end of an 82-year journey, and the beginning of a legacy renewed. His name is no longer lost to time; it now lives on in the hearts of those who welcomed him home.
Read more about McCook's story on Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website, click Here.
