Charles Peters was born on August 15, 1921, in Alabama, and grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on April 2, 1942, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field, Arizona, in May 1943. His first assignment was as a P-39 Airacobra pilot with the 363rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group at Santa Rosa Army Airfield and Oroville Army Airfield, California, and then at Casper Army Airfield, Wyoming, from May to November 1943, and then deployed with the unit to England flying the P-51 Mustang from November 1943 to August 1944. During this time Lt Peters was credited with the destruction of 3.33 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. His next assignment was as a P-51 instructor pilot at the 335th Army Air Force Base Unit at Sarasota Army Airfield, Florida, from October 1944 to May 1945, followed by service as Assistant Operations Officer and then Air Inspector with the 355th Army Air Force Base Unit at Sherman Army Airfield, Kansas, from May 1945 to December 1946. Capt Peters served as an F-80 Shooting Star pilot with the 27th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at March AFB, California, from January 1947 to December 1948, and then as an F-80 pilot with the 53rd Fighter Squadron of the 36th Fighter Group at Furstenfeldbruck AB, West Germany, from February to August 1949. His next assignment was as Operations Officer of the 36th Fighter Group at Furstenfeldbruck from August to October 1949, followed by service as Operations Officer of the 23rd Fighter Squadron of the 36th Fighter Group from October 1949 to February 1950. LtCol Peters served as an F-84 Thunderjet pilot and Commander of the 53rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 36th Fighter Bomber Group at Furstenfeldbruck AB from February 1950 to March 1952, and then as an F-86 Sabre pilot and Commander of the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, from March 1952 to February 1953. His next assignment was as Chief of the Programs Division with Headquarters Eastern Air Defense Force at Stewart AFB, New York, from February 1953 to August 1955, and he then attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1955 to July 1956. He served as a Staff Planning Officer and then as Chief of the Plans Development Branch, Air Force Plans Division, with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from July 1956 to June 1959, and then as Air Force Senior Advisor to the 2522nd Instrument Training Squadron at Robins AFB, Georgia, from June 1959 to July 1960. Col Peters next served as Air Force Senior Advisor to the 4501st Support Squadron at Waco, Texas, from July 1960 to August 1961, followed by service as Deputy Commander of the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing at Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C., from October 1961 until his retirement from the Air Force on October 1, 1962. Charles Peters died on February 2, 1989, and was buried at the Hope Mausoleum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary achievement and heroism in aerial combat and the destruction of two enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which Captain Peters has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.