Charles Pershing Mannka
Military ROLL OF HONOURBombardier Charles Mannka served in the 384th Bomb Group/546th Bomb Squadron. On return from the Kassel raid on July 30, 1943, he was on board B-17 #42-5848 'Patches', which landed at Boxted with 6 crew members injured and extensive battle damage.
Mannka was on board B-17 #42-29800 BK-H, 'Me and My Gal' when it was shot down 14 October 1943. Missing Air Crew Report MACR #840.
Immediately captured, he was interned at Stalag Luft III. From "Behind The Wire": "Was infected with dementia praecox on 15 May 1944. Developed pneumonia on 30 May. Was sent to an hospital where he died on 8 June 1944. Initially buried at the municipal cemetery in Leignitz (Legnica), Poland on 12 June 1944." His remains were exhumed after the war and Charles Mannka rests at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39311920
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16059741 and O-738249
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12081987
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | 27 January 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps |
Other Prisoner of War |
Żagań, Poland | 14 October 1943 - 8 June 1944 | Interned at Stalag Luft 3. Was sent to an hospital and died on 8 June 1944, from pneumonia, according to the German records. |
Other Died as a Prisoner of War (POW) |
near Leignitz/Legnica, Poland | 8 June 1944 | Died in POW camp. From Story of 1Lt.Luther C Cox, Stalag Luft III,93rd Bomb Group: 'Today the eight of June 1944, Lt.Mannka died, just one week after he had been taken from the camp ill. The Goons sent back the report that he had died of pneumonia. But some of us know the real answer. Perhaps he did die of pneumonia, but why? Because he had been thrown into a cold damp cell in solitary confinement where he had remained without any clothes for days until he died. It was murder, thats what it was. This isn't the first time a sick man left the confines of our camp never to return. The same report always comes back, DIED OF PNEUMONIA, when it should read: MURDERED... Several days later, our buddy, Lt. Mannka, was buried at Liegnitz, Germany, Standort Cemetery, part 5, Grave 880.' |
Born |
Pennsylvania, United States | ||
Buried |
Charles Mannka rests in Plot C, Row 6, Grave 19. |
Revisions
MACR 840
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
ABMC website
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 840 / MACR 840, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 214, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=… / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database