Charles W Beigel
MilitaryB-24H #41-29416 'Rebel Yell' collided with another aircraft after being hit by flak over the target of Berlin and crashed W of Oranienburg, GR on 22 Mar 1944. Prisoner of War (POW). This was my first mission. Captured by Luftwaffe forces and imprisioned at Stalag Luf III and Mosseburge-Stalag Luft VII-A Returned to U S custody by General Patton's 3rd Armored Division on April 29th, 1945
POW Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal
Connections
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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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-742671
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rebel Yell
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 22 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Blencoe, Iowa | 20 December 1922 | |
Other Appointed US Postmaster |
Onawa, Iowa | 15 August 1951 | |
Died |
Steubenville, OH | 17 December 2019 | Wayne was born in the small town of Blencoe, Iowa on December 20, 1922. He was the oldest son of the late John and Lillian Beigel. During his childhood he lived through the Great Depression, at one time moving because the monthly rent had been raised from $8 to $10. By the time he was 16, Wayne’s younger brother John and his father had died. Wayne graduated from Onawa High School in 1941 and joined the Army Air Corp shortly afterwards. Before leaving for England during World War II, Wayne married Kathleen Fouts of Onawa, Iowa on December 22, 1943. He was the co-pilot in a B-24 crew, only one of two survivors when his plane was shot down over Germany. He spent the next 14 months as a prisoner of war before being liberated by General Patton’s army in the spring of 1945 and returning home to Onawa. Wayne and Kathleen had nine children and lived in five places: Onawa, Iowa; Phoenix, Arizona; Anaheim and Pleasanton, California; and Steubenville, Ohio. He retired in 1981 as the Area Supervisor, San Francisco Division, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The most important parts of Wayne’s life were his faith and his family. He was a member of Triumph of the Cross Catholic Church. He generously gave his time and talent throughout his life in his local parish. One particular hobby that gave Wayne great joy was playing the trumpet, with jazz CDs accompanying him in the background. In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Kathleen; his brother John; his sisters Betty Griffith and Peg Dickerson; his son John; his daughter Mary Boucher; and his great-grandson Michael Mahl. He is survived by his brother Dan of San Antonio, Texas; four sons, Steve (Mary) of Norfolk, Virginia; Tom (Claudia) of Rancho Cordova, California; Rev. Gerard of Littleton, Colorado; Jim of Massillon, Ohio; and three daughters, Connie (Darrell) Huston of Star, Idaho; Sue (Dave) Carlson and Cathy (Jeff) Harris, both of Steubenville; 29 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren. Calling hours are from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 27, 2019, at the Mosti Funeral Home, 4435 Sunset Blvd, with the vigil service at 3:30 p.m. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated at Triumph of the Cross Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 28, 2019, with the Rev. Thomas Nau officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Steubenville. |
Buried |
27 December 2019 | Mount Calvary Cemetery Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA | |
Other Shot down/Collided |
Oranienburg, Germany | 22 March 1944 | |
Other POW |
Zagan, Poland | Stalag Luft III |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3491 / MACR 3491, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database