Charles Vacek

Military

Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt in B-17 42-30181 'Herky Jerky II' 24-Jan-44; shot down by fighters, Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2258



Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.

95th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Clay Anderson Burnette

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-742956
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6414) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'

42-30181

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Herky Jerky II : Lover Boy
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, Illinois, USA 8 August 1918 Son of Anna Vacek.

Enlisted

Camp Grant, IL 4 March 1942 Camp Grant, Illinois

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 24 January 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I.

Died

Sun City, AZ 14 November 1988

Based

Horham 24 January 1944 Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/657573532
https://www.fold3.com/record/40586135/charles-vacek-social-security-dea…
https://www.fold3.com/record/89657005/charles-vacek-wwii-army-enlistmen…
https://www.fold3.com/record/629203489/charles-vacek-1918-veterans-affa…

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added POW Camp info to the POW event and a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to Stalag Luft 1 per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2258 / MACR 2258, 8th AF Losses / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database