Charles Baker Hill

Military
media-15201.jpeg UPL 15201 B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, piloted by LeRoy B Morgan, returning safely to Libya. 1 WIA - 1 KIA 1 Aug 43. Photo taken on war bond tour.
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.

Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug

Object Number - UPL 15201 - B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, ...

Lt. Charles Hill was a B-24 navigator assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, in the 98th Bomb Group (The Pyramiders), in the 9th Air Force (The Force For Freedom), in the USAAF, at Benghazi, Libya. He flew on Operation Tidal Wave, completed his combat tour, and returned to the USA with the B-24D, Chug-A-Lug, for a war bond tour.



Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.



Post war: Served in Korean conflict.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19039992 / O-729707
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17027297 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Elysian Fields, TX 23 September 1915 Son of D'Arcy and Alice Mae [Westmoreland] Hill.

Enlisted

Shreveport, LA 6 April 1942 Shreveport, Louisiana

Died

Shreveport, LA 8 December 2003

Buried

Forest Park East Cemetery, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA 11 December 2003 Forest Park East Cemetery Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Based

Benina Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Crewmen added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Details added - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Details added. - Kickapoo

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