THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606260342
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 48 lines
Carl William Schoenweiss, 84, a retired captain, U.S. Navy, of 5400 block of Powhatan Ave., died June 24, 1996, at his home.
Captain Schoenweiss was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., the son of Charles and Margaret Schoenweiss. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with the class of 1934. He served on USS Saratoga, destroyer Tuttnall and cruiser Quincy before receiving flight training at Pensacola, Fla., and his designation as naval aviator in July 1938.
At the outbreak of World War II he was serving with Patrol Squadron 51 in Norfolk. The squadron on Dec. 9, 1941, deployed to the Pacific and operated from Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. In November 1942, he was made commanding officer of a newly commissioned Patrol Squadron 54, which after a brief training period was ordered to the Solomon Islands. They operated from Henderson field Guadalcanal as the Black Cats, performing the first night search and attack missions, as well as day rescue missions of downed pilots. After two years he returned to the United States and reported for duty at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md., as senior multi-engine test pilot.
Following World War II he had various aviation assignments in the Pacific area, including two deployments on the carrier USS Sicily in the Korean area, 1950-1951. Various shore duty assignments followed including commanding officer, U.S. Naval Air Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1959-1960. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, three air medals and the Navy Unit Commendation.
Upon his retirement in 1964, he was employed by Virginia National Bank until his retirement in 1976. He was a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Retired Officers Association, Association of Naval Aviation, Norfolk Yacht and Country Club and the Edgewater Association. He was a member of Larchmont United Methodist Church.
Captain Schoenweiss was the widower of Ellen Blassingham Schoenweiss and the husband of Margaret Jones Schoenweiss. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Mary Ellen Carter of Richmond and Carolyn S. Holmes of Raleigh; and three grandchildren, Wendy C. Possinger, William Carter, Nancy Holmes; two stepdaughters, Mary Stewart Alberton of Richmond, Sarah J. Beale of Suffolk; a stepson, Thomas H. Jones III of Norfolk; and six step-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Larchmont United Methodist Church with Dr. Jerry Campbell officiating. The family will be at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, from 7 to 8 p.m. today. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB