Charles R. Koerner

NEW BERN | Charles R. Koerner, 93, of New Bern, died July 16, 2015 at his home in Fairfield Harbour. Originally raised and schooled in Brownsville, PA. When WWII broke out, he entered the Army Air Corp.
As a World War II P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps, he achieved the distinction of winning not only the Distinguished Flying Cross and 13 Air Medals, but also the French Croix de Guerre. In 1944 and 1945, then – 1st Lt. Koerner's unit, the 404th Fighter Group of the 9th Air Force, was heavily involved in ground attack missions against German armored, mechanized, and infantry forces in Nazi-occupied Belgium, France and later Germany itself. He flew a total of 86 missions during this period, and along with his fellow pilots, inflicted significant destruction against the enemy. His unit did not go unscathed. Many of his fellow pilots did not return from their sorties against German units.
The plane that he flew, the P-47 Thunderbolt, was the largest single engine fighter plane of World War II. It carried eight 50 caliber machine guns and was also fitted with rockets and bombs.
After the war, Charles returned to civilian life in Pennsylvania. He married Mary Cassidy in 1948 and they raised four children together. Charles was theater manager of the Boyd Theatre in Lancaster, PA., and was also a reservist in the Air National Guard for five years rising to the rank of Captain before he was decommissioned. He then became district manager for the Budco Theatres in the Philadelphia area. In 1979, Charles and Mary moved to New Hampshire where they owned and operated a motel business quite successfully for 21 years. They retired to Fairfield Harbour in 2000. They were married for 60 years. Sadly, Mary the love of Charles' life, passed away in 2007.
Charles was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church and the National Guard. He enjoyed antiquing, sailing and golfing. In addition to his wife Mary, he is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Charlotte Koerner, and his brother and sister, Harry and Betty. Charles is survived by his children, Lt. Col. Charles Ross Koerner, II and wife Eleanor of Washington Crossing, PA; David Thomas Koerner of Graham, NC; Daniel Joseph Koerner and wife Klara of St. Helens, OR; Karen Gantert and husband Robert of New Bern, NC; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:00 pm, followed by a rosary, Monday, July 20, 2015 at St. Paul Catholic Church. His funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at St. Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Josephs Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church Building Fund or to Wounded Warrior Project.
Arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.cottenfuneralhome.com.