Charles Richard “Charlie” Koster was born on July 7, 1944 at Carrollton, Illinois. He was the son of Margaret L. Wagener (1918-2011) and Frank Joseph 'Fritz' Koster (1912-1970). After graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training, he went to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, Victorville, California for F-4 Replacement Training.

Charlie and Sally Trimble were married on March 30, 1968 in Victorville, California.

In mid 1968, he was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 'Night Owls', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing 'Wolf Pack' at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D ‘Phantom II'. While at Ubon, he became a Wolf FAC and then returned to the 497th for the remainder of his tour.

On the night of April 5, 1969, Captain Randy Brant, Aircraft Commander, and First Lieutenant Charlie Koster, Weapons System Officer, were flying in F-4D, sn 66-0233 on a night strike mission on Route 8, near Delta 75 in Laos. After dropping their CBU-2's, they jettisoned the empty centerline CBU-2 canister which was Wing policy as they did not want us to bring the empty canisters back fearing there might be some antipersonnel submunitions remaining in the canisters. The CBU-2 canister contacted the slab resulting in loss of control of the aircraft. After suffering one of the coldest nights of the year, both were safely rescued the following morning. Randy was DNIF for some time due to injuries he suffered. Several days later, Charlie was at a squadron hooch party enjoying himself.

Charlie was later assigned to the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany, where he flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4D, Phantom II. At that time, Spangdahlem was home to the 23rd TFS, 81st TFS and the 580th TFS.

On November 17, 1978, Major Charlie Koster and Major Ralph Micek, an instructor pilot in the rear cockpit, were flying an F-4D when it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Turkey. They were in an ACT engagement when they lost control of the aircraft. They ejected at mach 1.05 and the extreme wind forces made their arms flail and did damage to limbs and ligaments. They both got good chutes. It took Major Micek over an hour to get into his life raft. Charlie Koster died from drowning.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, USAFA 1966 classbook, Polaris