Charles R. Able; WWII Spitfire Pilot, Aerospace Executive

Charles R. Able, a World War II pilot who flew Spitfires across the North Atlantic and who was chosen in 1968 to head the merged space exploration arms of Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Astronautics, died of the complications of cancer Jan. 4.

He was 72 and died in a Torrance nursing home, said his daughter, Judith Goodwyn.

Able came to Douglas in 1947 from Republic Aviation and had run Douglas’ missile and space operations--which included the Saturn, Thor and Delta booster rockets and the Nike-Zeus antimissile missile--since 1961. Before that he was director of military sales and director of defense programs.

During his tenure at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics, the 25,000-person, international company was responsible for development of the Spartan missile--then the Army’s long-range interceptor missile--and the Saturn IV-B engine, which powered the Apollo spacecrafts. In 1969 Able and James S. McDonnell, McDonnell-Douglas chairman, were presented public service awards by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for their part in the success of Apollo 8.

Able resigned in 1975 for health reasons.

He was a mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Colorado before entering the Army Air Corps in 1940.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, another daughter, Nancy Frank, a brother, sister and three grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled Friday at 2 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Westwood.