Charles J Vejda
Military
Richard Wollstein Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N), James B. Smith (CP).
Kneeling Left to Right: William Scott (Ground Crew Chief), Eldred Schroeder (G), Bernard H. Tighe (FE), Charles J. Vejda (R/O), Steve Lindquist (G), Albert W. Pittman (G), Norman Clark (RWG).
This crew were shot down on 13 August 1944 while flying B-24H-15-FO #42-52529 "Wild Pussy" (name changed to "Wild Princess" per officers' request) Code: U8-B
Wollstein (P), Smith (CP), and Owens (N) were all KIA.
Vejda (R/O), Clark (RWG), and Tighe (FE) all evaded capture and eventually returned to England.
Lindquist had been had been KIA on 17 July 1944 when the crew was hit by flak and forced to crash land B-24H-15-FO #42-52511 on the beach near New Romney, England.
The rest of the crew were made POW for the duration.
466th Bomb Group collection
Joseph M. Owens, son of 1st Lt Maurus C Owens (N)
Object Number - UPL 6943 - Crew #631 Richard Wollstein Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N),...
Crashed at Orival on 8/13/44 in B-24 'Wild Pussy' #42-52529, Evaded (EVD).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Wild-Pussy/Sully's Saloon
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Cedar Rapids, IA, USA | 2 February 1923 | |
|
Enlisted |
Herrold, IA 50109, USA | 19 January 1943 | Camp Dodge |
|
Died |
Longview, WA, USA | 17 December 1996 | |
|
Buried |
Longview, WA, USA | 21 December 1996 | Longview Memorial Park Longview, Washington |
|
Other Shot Down/Evadee |
France | 13 August 1944 | |
| Linn County, IA, USA |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
466th BG Archives - Notice of Charles J. Vejda's funeral
http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=6626594
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7912 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
