Charles McDonald Olson

Military

Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Brunswick in B-17 42-31535; shot down by enemy aircraft on 30-Jan-44, baled out near Essern, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2876



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-801235
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735753
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Major Walter Fulkerson, also known as "Duffy", watches ground crewman Sergeant Anton Kofman paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31040) nicknamed "Duffy's Tavern" that has been named after Fulkerson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Jan 1944.' [stamp] and '300535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'CHRISTENING OF "DUFFY'S TAVERN". "Duffy" is the nickname of one of the most widely known and beloved air officers in the ETO. He
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Duffy's Tavern
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Elizabethton, Tennessee 10 July 1924 Son of Edwin O and Lula W Olson.

Enlisted

Richmond, VA 24 November 1942 Richmond, Virginia

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Tychowo, Poland 30 January 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV.

Other

Baled out POW

Essern, Germany 30 January 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Brunswick in B-17 42-31535; shot down by enemy aircraft on 30-Jan-44, baled out near Essern, Germany. POW MACR 2876

Died

28 February 2005

Buried

Glenwood Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Bristol, Sullivan County, TN Glenwood Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee

Based

Kimbolton 30 January 1944 Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2876 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database