Costas John Contogogou was born on March 4, 1920, in Manchester, New Hampshire, into a family of Greek immigrants. His parents were John Erithanious Contogogou, born on May 19, 1895, in Braza, Greece, and Zoe Sharkavos.¹ His father immigrated to the United States before the First World War and was later registered in Keene, New Hampshire, as self-employed, residing at 28 Proctor Court.² The family moved from Manchester to Keene in 1929, where young Costas attended Keene High School, graduating in 1938, and subsequently Keene Teachers College, graduating in 1942.³ His draft registration card, completed in Keene, NH, in 1942, confirms his full name as Costas John Contogogou, born March 4, 1920, in Manchester, NH, and residing at 28 Proctor Court. He was then employed by the Geddes Oil Company of Keene, NH.²^a Following his graduation, Contogogou entered the U.S. Navy in 1942.⁴ Accepted for naval flight training, he was sent to the Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his commission and wings of gold. The Pensacola yearbook lists him explicitly: “Contogogou, Costas — Keene, N.H. — Keene Teachers College.” ⁶ ^a A graduation page further identifies him among his classmates, confirming his commissioning as a Naval Aviator and Ensign (A–V(S)) in the U.S. Naval Reserve.⁶^b In early 1944 he was posted to the newly formed Fighting Squadron 81 (VF-81), organized on March 1, 1944, at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, with F6F-3 Hellcats.⁵ The squadron trained intensively in formation flying, air tactics, and gunnery. By May 1944, VF-81 had transitioned to the improved F6F-5 Hellcat and reached full operational strength.⁶

Deployment to the Pacific Theater

In August 1944, Contogogou and his squadron mates embarked on the fleet carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) for transfer to Pearl Harbor. The passenger list of 23 August 1944 explicitly includes Ensign Costas Contogogou among VF-81 officers traveling from San Diego to Pearl Harbor.⁸^a At Pearl Harbor, VF-81 continued on to NAS Puunene, Maui, for advanced training in rocket gunnery, night flying, and carrier qualifications.⁷ This Hawaiian phase was critical: it readied the squadron for combat deployment. Squadron reports emphasize the thoroughness of this training, which produced a cohesive and combat-ready unit.⁸ In October 1944, another passenger list shows Ensign Contogogou aboard the escort carrier USS Copahee (CVE-12) on 28 October, transporting Air Group 81 from Pearl Harbor to Guam.⁸b From Guam, the air group boarded the fleet carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) on 10 November 1944, joining Carrier Air Group 81 for its first combat cruise. By autumn 1944, Ensign Costas Contogogou and the men of VF-81 were declared combat-ready. On 21 October 1944, the squadron embarked aboard the USS Wasp (CV-18) as part of Carrier Air Group 81.⁹ After weeks of shakedown sailing and final deck qualifications, they moved west to join the fast carrier forces of Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet. The squadron’s official report records:

“On 14 November 1944 VF-81 participated in its first strike against the enemy. The squadron launched with other units of Air Group 81 in an attack against MANILA HARBOR, LUZON. Enemy shipping and airfields were the primary targets. Aircraft from this command strafed runways, destroyed grounded planes, and attacked shipping with bombs and rockets.”¹⁰

In the following weeks, Contogogou flew as part of squadron formations in the Philippines campaign. VF-81 mounted repeated strikes against Clark Field, Nichols Field, and other Luzon installations, with the report noting:

“During the period 19–25 November 1944, operations were conducted over LUZON. The squadron engaged enemy aircraft in aerial combat, destroying numerous planes in the air and on the ground.”¹¹ “On 14–16 December 1944, VF-81 participated in strikes against FORMOSA and the PESCADORES. Aircraft strafed airfields and attacked shipping in TAKAO HARBOR. On 18–20 December 1944, strikes were directed at the INDO-CHINA coast. Squadron planes strafed HONG KONG, CANTON, AMOY and SWATOW.”¹²

The turn of the year saw relentless action. 

“During the period 3–7 January 1945, VF-81 participated in raids on FORMOSA and LUZON. Enemy air opposition was moderate to heavy, and anti-aircraft fire intense. On 12 January 1945, strikes were made against SAIGON and the INDO-CHINA coast, with attacks on shipping and docks.”¹³ "On 15–17 January 1945, VF-81 participated in the strikes on FORMOSA. On 21 January 1945, heavy attacks were made on FORMOSA and the RYUKYUS. Considerable damage was inflicted on enemy aircraft and installations.”¹⁴ "On 16–17 February 1945, VF-81 participated in the first carrier strikes against the TOKYO area. On 19–23 February 1945, strikes were directed in support of the IWO JIMA invasion. Squadron aircraft provided air cover, strafed defenses, and attacked enemy positions.”¹⁵

These were the very operations recalled decades later in the oral testimony of James Goldammer, who quoted Contogogou describing the dangers of night landings on a darkened carrier deck, and the heavy losses endured during Iwo Jima:

“Costas stated that Japan never expected night time attacks where we had to turn off all the lights on the aircraft carrier except one on in the front and back of the carrier and if the ocean was rough it took something special to land the Hellcat planes. Costas stated that after each mission the pilots would wait in the meeting room to see who was not coming back. One of the pilots, John Bauman, was shot down thinking he had died but was found after the war in a POW camp alive weighing 90 lbs. And the USS Wasp was part of the Iwo Jima invasion on Feb. 20 & 23, 1945. … The first picture is the last picture of the squadron before they went on the USS Wasp and I think less than half did not return. Costas is in the bottom row, 5th from the right. When I showed this picture to Costas he shed a tear for he had never seen it. And the picture of Costas holding that picture that I took will always hold something special to me … A few months later Costas had passed away. He was a very successful judge his whole life.”¹⁶

The campaign climaxed in March 1945. The squadron’s official summary recorded:

“On 1 March 1945, VF-81 conducted strikes against the TOKYO area. On 18–23 March 1945, attacks were made on OKINAWA, CHICHI JIMA and surrounding islands. Enemy air opposition was severe. Anti-aircraft fire was extremely heavy. Numerous enemy aircraft were destroyed.”¹⁷

This marked the final combat operations for VF-81 aboard the Wasp. On 14 March 1945, Carrier Air Group 81 was relieved by CVG-86, and VF-81 returned to the United States after nearly four months of continuous front-line duty. Within his squadron, Contogogou was affectionately nicknamed “Connie.” A VF-81 yearbook photograph identified him as “Lt. (jg) Costas Contogogou – Keene, New Hampshire – Keene Teachers College.” The accompanying note praised his humor, honesty, and sociability:

“Connie—Connie, our jack-of-all-trades, shoulders the sundry secondary duties thrust upon him, with commendable zeal and cheerfulness. … His smile, his crooning, his honest industry and warm conviviality have won him all our bravos and trust, assuring him worldly success equal to his social victories.”¹⁸

Postwar Career
 
Following his wartime service, he adopted the anglicized form of his surname, Charles J. Contas. He entered Boston University School of Law, from which he graduated in 1949.¹⁹ On July 20, 1952, he married Katherine Memos of Nashua, New Hampshire, in the Church of the Annunciation, Nashua. Engagement notices described her as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sterios Memos of 32½ Blossom Street, a 1943 graduate of Nashua High School and bookkeeper with the Nashua Manufacturing Company.²⁰ Their wedding announcement detailed a large Greek Orthodox celebration with attendants including members of both families, noting Contogogou as “a graduate of Keene Teachers College, [who] served four years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and is now attending Boston University Law School.”²¹ In 1953 the couple settled in Keene, where Charles Contas began a distinguished legal and civic career. He practiced law and was later appointed Clerk of the Cheshire County Superior Court, a position he held for twenty-five years. In 1978 he was elevated to the New Hampshire Superior Court as a judge, serving until his retirement in 1989.²² Beyond his legal career, Contas remained deeply engaged in civic and community life. He was active in the American Legion, the Keene Lions Club, the Masonic lodge, the Bektash Shrine, and was a longtime board member and president of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Keene.²³ He and his wife raised their family in Keene, and he was remembered as a devoted husband, father, and active sportsman. Charles J. Contas died in December 2010 at the age of ninety. His obituary described him as “a remarkable and honorable man” who was “forever greatly loved.”²⁴ His life reflects both the immigrant story of his parents, who came from a small village in Greece to New England, and his own achievement as a decorated naval aviator, respected jurist, and pillar of the Greek-American community.