Airman Charles Hunter McGhee was a crew member of the aircraft carrier USS Bennington (CVA-20), cruising in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. On May 26, 1954, a launching catapult exploded killing him and 101 fellow crewmen.
Airman Charles H. McGhee, 21, route 1, who joined the crew of the carrier Bennington only last week, was among those who perished in the disaster, aboard the ship Wednesday, the Navy announced. McGhee, son of Mrs. Irene McGhee Taylor, had been in the U.S. Navy two years. The mother received the news late Wednesday night, however, no official confirmation was sent her by the Navy until Thursday morning. A 1952 graduate of Science Hill High School, McGhee formerly was stationed at Jacksonville, Fla., where he was a mechanic on a jet aircraft. McGhee was one of four killed from Tennessee. The others include Geore W. Byers, Floyd Wilson Goins, Lyles; and Dewey W. Lambdin.
Other survivors include his stepfather, Raymond Taylor; a brother, the Rev. Eugene McGhee, Louisville, Ky.; the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. .G. Fogleman, Johnson City.
- Rank: Airman
- Date of birth: 28 June 1933
- Date of death: 26 May 1954
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Bennington (CVA-20)
- Conflict: Korean War
- Awards: National Defense Service Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Monte Vista Memorial Park, Johnson City, Washington County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXI, Bottom Panel
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