Charles Francis Bang
MilitaryRWG, Zum crew, 381st BG, 535th BS.
Shot down 3 September 1943 in B-17 #42-29789 'Big Time Operator'. Mission #25 to the airfield at Romilly, France. MACR 473.
Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft XVIIB. S/Sgt Bang was a replacement for this mission, he was a member of the Chapman crew, 535th BS. Prior to being sent overseas, S/Sgt Bang rode with the ground echelon crew on a ship due to a broken leg in a cast. He wanted to join his own unit.
Credited with one German fighter destroyed on the 17 August 1943 mission to Schweinfurt with the Chapman crew.
Arlington, VA
POW
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: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12064194
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676427
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12141044
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-678265
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38195226
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Time Operator
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 3 September 1943
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Prisoner of War |
3 September 1943 | Stalag Luft XVIIB | |
|
Born |
Arlington, Virginia |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 473;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 473