Charles Paul Wilder

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

B-17 #42-30872 'Ole Puss' collided with another aircraft on 16 December 1943. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).



Staff Sergeant Charles P. Wilder was born May 20, 1921. His next of kin were his father, Charlie Wilder, and his brother, James Wilder. He was from Raleigh, North Carolina.

On December 16, 1943, he was serving as Left Waist Gunner aboard “Ole Puss,” B-17 tail #42-30872, of the 96th Bomb Group, 337th Bomb Squadron, when it was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 tail #42-31113 over the North Sea.

His remains were never recovered.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30872) nicknamed "Blonde Bomber".

42-30872

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blonde Bomber Betty Grable aka Ole Puss
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron

42-31113

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Zilch
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lewisburg, North Carolina, USA 20 May 1921 Staff Sergeant Charles P. Wilder was born May 20, 1921. His next of kin were his father, Charlie Wilder, and his brother, James Wilder. He was from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Died

Killed in Action (KIA)

Hollland 16 December 1943 On December 16, 1943, he was serving as Left Waist Gunner aboard “Ole Puss,” B-17 tail #42-30872, of the 96th Bomb Group, 337th Bomb Squadron, when it was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 tail #42-31113 over the North Sea. His remains were never recovered.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added S/N & middle name per MACR 1565 for A/C #42-30872 at Fold3.com.

SOURCE:  https://www.fold3.com/image/28693089/42?terms=42,30872

 

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

 

Date
ContributorWW2 Researcher Bill Beigel
Changes
Sources

IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1565 / MACR 1565; Snetterton Falcons, pg 61 & 88 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database