Charles Deane Cavit
MilitaryCapt. Charles Cavit was assigned to the 567th BS, the 389th BG, in the 8th AF, USAAF. TDY to the 9th AF for the Ploesti mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24D, 41-11776, Bashful. 1-Aug-43. A/C set afire over target, crashed south of Ploesti Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 171
Despite being burned in the crash, returned to A/C to rescue the pilot. Unfortunately the pilot died from his wounds overnight, when medical care was withheld by their German captors.
Awards: DFC, PH.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-666317
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Jersey Jackass - Jersey Jerks - Bashful
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Belle Plaine, KS | 28 March 1921 | Son of George H. and Verna [Dewey] Cavit. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Bucharest, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Prisoner of War (POW). Held in Romania |
|
Other Force landed POW |
Sth of Ploiesti, Romania | 1 August 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24D, 41-11776, Bashful, 1-Aug-43. A/C set on fire over Ploesti. Crashed south of Ploesti. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 171 |
|
Died |
24 September 2015 | ||
|
Based |
Hethel | 1 August 1943 | Assigned to 567BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
Honorable discharge. | ||
|
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia |
Revisions
Removed punctuation from around aircraft names for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 176 & Unit history & p228 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION edited by Randy Baumgardner, D790.A2S45