Charles W Hayes
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
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
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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
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
- Site type: Airfield
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
David Freels
David Freels
David Freels
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
Fields of Honor Database and East TN Veterans Memorial Association
Fields Of Honor Database
Information is from the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association and verified by my father, who was Lt. Hayes 1st cousin.
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
