Quick Facts
Biography
Charles Arthur Tabberer was born on 18 December 1915 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Navy career
Tabberer enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 12 October 1939 and was appointed an aviation cadet on 11 January 1940. Following flight training at Pensacola, Florida, and Miami, Florida, Cadet Tabberer was designated a naval aviator on 1 November.
He was commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve on 12 December. After further training at San Diego, California, he was ordered to report to Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-6) which was then assigned to USS Yorktown (CV-5).
Ens. Tabberer served with VF-6 throughout his short naval career. Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on 29 May 1942, his squadron was assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3) for the invasion of Guadalcanal in the southern Solomon Islands.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Lt. (jg.) Tabberer was one of the 11 "Wildcat" (F4F) pilots lost when elements of the Japanese 26th Air Flotilla opposed the Guadalcanal invasion force on 7 August. Through the efforts of Tabberer and his comrades, the Japanese aerial forces were beaten back. For his sacrifice, Lt. (jg.) Tabberer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, posthumously.
Namesake
USS Tabberer (DE-418) was laid down at Houston, Texas, on 12 January 1944 by the Brown Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 18 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Mary M. Tabberer, and commissioned on 23 May 1944, Lt. Comdr. Henry Lee Plage, USNR, in command.