Charles W Hayes

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-56551.jpeg UPL 56551 2nd. Lt. Charles Williston Hayes Lt. Charles Williston Hayes

Removed association not depicted in the image.

Object Number - UPL 56551 - 2nd. Lt. Charles Williston Hayes

Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down by flak and fighters and crashed at Wilhelmshorst in B-17 #43-37920

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bedlam ball
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Devil's Mistress
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dina mite
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Slow Ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Queen of the ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Knoxville, TN, USA 13 December 1921 Charles Williston Hayes was a premed student at the Univ of Tenn when he enlisted in the US Army Air Force in WWII. He was a B17 pilot and was shot down and killed in an air raid to Berlin on August 6, 1944.

Enlisted

Prisoner of War (POW)

Knoxville, TN, USA 4 March 1942 - 6 August 1944 Lt Hayes was a graduate of the 63rd Army Air Force Flying Training Detachment, Turner Field at Douglas Georgia. Class 1944-A.

Based

6 August 1944 B-17-G AC#43-37920 was delivered to Cheyenne Wyoming 5th of June 1944 Then delivered to Kearney on 19th of June 1944 Then to Grenier, New Hamshire 30th of June 1944 Then ferried to Polebrook England on the 17th of July 1944 and assigned to the 511th Bomber Squadron 351st Bomber Group, with the designation DS-L. Flying the 6th combat mission of this B-17, on the 6th of August 1944, this aircraft was to bomb an aircraft parts factory at Brandenburg, Germany. It was hit by flak and fighters until it was unable to fly and crashed at Wilhelmshorst Germany. The following crew flew the ship’s last mission: Pilot Lt George Uttley Jr. KIA Missouri. Co-Pilot Lt Charles W Hayes KIA Tennessee. Lt Milton A. Shier POW Bombadier Lt James A. Ralston Jr. KIA Baltimore Maryland. SSgt Cecil F. Badgett KIA. SSgt Alvin Bernstein POW. Sgt William T. Saunders KIA Sgt Joe Garza KIA Sgt Marion C. Covendale KIA

Died

Wilhelmshorst, 14552 Michendorf, Germany 6 August 1944 He was flying what was thought to be his 15th combat mission. According to Lt. Shier, who survived the war as a POW, the plane was diving at a steep angle, nose on fire, and he saw Lt. Hayes preparing to bail out. That was the last time he was seen. He appeared to be unhurt and it is speculated that he was killed by the Germans on the ground. Flying the 6th combat mission of this B-17, on the 6th of August 1944, this aircraft was to bomb an aircraft parts factory at Brandenburg, Germany. It was hit by flak and fighters until it was unable to fly and crashed at Wilhelmshorst Germany. The following crew flew the ship’s last mission: Pilot Lt George Uttley Jr. KIA Missouri. Co-Pilot Lt Charles W Hayes KIA Tennessee. Lt Milton A. Shier POW Bombadier Lt James A. Ralston Jr. KIA Baltimore Maryland. SSgt Cecil F. Badgett KIA. SSgt Alvin Bernstein POW. Sgt William T. Saunders KIA Sgt Joe Garza KIA Sgt Marion C. Covendale KIA

Other

Family

Knoxville, TN, USA He had married prior to enlisting and son Tucky was born while he was in flight training in Georgia. Wife Helen had Linda after he went to England with the 511th Squadron, of the 351th Bomb Group at Polbrook Airfield. Enlisted on March 4, 1942 Parents: Tuckey John Tyler Hayes and Margaret Edna Kidd Sibling: Tuckey John Tyler Hayes, Jr. Married to Helen Juanita Farnham Children: Tucky and Linda Hayes Nicknamed: Billy

Buried

Plot A Row 32 Grave 19

Revisions

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

David Freels

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

David Freels

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

David Freels

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

Fields of Honor Database and East TN Veterans Memorial Association

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

Fields Of Honor Database

Date
ContributorDave618
Changes
Sources

Information is from the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association and verified by my father, who was Lt. Hayes 1st cousin.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7585 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Charles W Hayes: Gallery (9 items)