Charles Robert Bigler
Military
Crew list for 17-Jul-43: Lt Willis C Carlisle, Lt Charles R Bigler, Lt John W Bradley, Lt Joseph G Glaser Jr, T/Sgt Benjamin B Johnson, T/Sgt Albert P Tyler, Cpl Charles J Kukawski, Sgt James A Dyson, Sgt Vernon F Bennett, Sgt John A Stachura.
Pictured L-R:
Rear: 2Lt Lt Charles R Bigler, 1Lt Willis C Carlisle, Lt Joseph G Glaser Jr, Lt John W Bradley.
Front: Cpl Charles J Kukawski, T/Sgt Benjamin B Johnson, T/Sgt Albert P Tyler, Sgt John A Stachura.
https://www.fold3.com/image/32192770
379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, November 1942-July 194
Object Number - UPL 39367 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Judy B' at an 8th Air Force base in England, 16 July 1943." Crew...
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions. Co-pilot of B-17 42-29866 'Judy B' on Hamburg mission, when pilot Lt Willis C Carlisle was killed at controls. A/C fought off fighters whilst in uncontrolled plunge from 16,000ft to 3,500ft 25-Jul-43 RTD
Failed to Return (FTR) Le Bourget in B-17 42-29866; Shot down by flak 16-Aug-43. Evaded and returned (EVD/RTD).
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16058150 / O-733269
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794092
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-663482
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19074257 / O-677197
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18041327
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Peter Wabbit
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Judy B
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Scarlett O'Hara
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mary jane ii
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 16 August 1943
- Date: 25 June 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Logansport, Indiana, USA | 4 June 1922 | Son of John S and Mary E Bigler. |
|
Other Married |
Watertown, SD | 21 March 1943 | Married Betty Eloise Jennens in Watertown, SD |
|
Other Returned to base pilot KIA |
Hamburg, Germany | 25 June 1943 | Hamburg mission in B-17 42-29866; Despite pilot being KIA and a plunge of 12,500ft whilst under fire by fighters. Returned to base and to durty RTD. |
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Le Bourget, France | 16 August 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Le Bourget in B-17 42-29866; Shot down by flak 16-Aug-43. Evaded and returned (EVD/RTD) |
|
Other EVD |
France | 16 August 1943 | Evaded capture with assistance from French resistance, returning to his unit by Apr-44. |
|
Died |
Mesa, AZ | 19 February 2001 | |
|
Buried |
Calumet Park CemeteryMerrillville,Lake County, IN | 23 February 2001 | Calumet Park Cemetery Merrillville, Lake County, Indiana |
|
Based Evaded |
Kimbolton | Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
|
Born |
Rochester, IN |
Revisions
Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
https://www.fold3.com/image/28693474
https://www.fold3.com/record/36622668-charles-r-bigler
379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, November 1942-July 1945
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184400106/charles-robert-bigler
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196479249/betty-eloise-bigler
https://www.fold3.com/image/28693474
https://www.fold3.com/record/36622668-charles-r-bigler
379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, November 1942-July 1945
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184400106/charles-robert-bigler
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196479249/betty-eloise-bigler
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1352 / MACR 1352; 379th Bombardment Group Anthology, pg 274 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
