Charles F Balik

Military

On 22 January 1945, 24th mission, plane was hit by flak after 'bombs away. ' The #3 engine was damaged and we fell behind in the formation. At the bomb line, another burst of flak set the #4 engine afire. The pilot, Richard Goldsborough, gave the order to bail out. The plane crashed and burned in an open field in Holland. All crew members bailed out and became Prisoner of War (POW)s. Also served in Vietnam



PH/ AM/ POW/ ATO/ EAME/ WW II VM

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

44-6078

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hard Hearted Mama
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Brighton, Pennsylvania, USA

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 22 January 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12011 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / self MACR 12011