Charles R Johnston
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Uploaded
Object Number - UPL 16100 - 1st. Lt. Charles R Johnston photo taken in London March 1944
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #42-31773, Killed In Action (KIA). Flew 29 missions.
1st Lieutenant Charles R. Johnston was born May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Frances Johnston, his mother, Mrs. Clarence Johnston, and his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. John Horning. His hometown was La Junta, Colorado.
On April 29, 1944, he was the Pilot of B-17 tail #42-31773 of the 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron, when it was downed over Rautheim, Germany. He died as a POW in a German hospital in Braunschweig the same day.
He is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 29 April 1944
- Date: 9 March 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
29 May 1916 | 1st Lieutenant Charles R. Johnston was born May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Frances Johnston, his mother, Mrs. Clarence Johnston, and his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. John Horning. Son Charles R Johnston Jr. His hometown was La Junta, Colorado. | |
|
Died |
29 April 1944 | On April 29, 1944, he was the Pilot of B-17 tail #42-31773 of the 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron, when it was downed over Rautheim, Germany. He died as a POW in a German hospital in Braunschweig the same day. | |
|
Buried |
He is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. |
Revisions
Records of my Dad from research over the last 70+ years of my life. I was told very little about Dad. A lot of research, phone calls and letters gave me a small piece of what my Dad was like. i was born 5 months and 4 days before Dad's B-17G was shot down by fighters over Germany.
best description of the last mission flown on April 29, 1944 is given by Truman Smith in his Book "the Wrong Stuff" also from phone call's to Truman in the 1990's. he called it the worst day of his life.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
mission log 1st Lt Charles R Johnston flew on mission 253 to Berlin
personal diary of my Dad 1st Lt Charles R Johnston Pilot of B-17 42-31746 when he had to crash land at Honning
Brought in information from a duplicate entry. Source:
MACR 4456 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
incorrect date when Dad's B-17 was shot down. April not May 1944
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.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4456
