Charles Lloyd Whetstone
MilitaryChuck L Whetstone, Oklahoma City, OK April 14, 2020
Charles L Whetstone was from Arkansas. Following high school he made his way to the big city of Shreveport with 50 cents in his pocket. He met his bride, Rosalie, and were married before he was shipped off to the war. His group flew out of Thurleigh, England. He flew with Donald Tattershall, but was shot down with Richard Wong. He was shot down on his 5th mission. He parachuted into the sea and was captured by local authorities. He spent most of his time at Luft IV. They departed there on 6-Feb-45 on a 550 mile march.
Upon being liberated he returned to the States and reunited with his wife. They settled in Shreveport, LA and had two children.
Charlie got a job with Sunray DX and moved to Texas working in oil refineries. He retired from Sun Oil sometime in the 1980's living in the small town of Ingleside, TX.
Later he moved to Bartlett, TN and passed away there.
He was a great man. He loved his family, his church, music, telling jokes, and giving to others.
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746460
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-745990
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 3 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Eldorado, AR | 19 June 1924 | Son of Walter Bernard and Dossie [Britt] Whetstone. |
Enlisted |
Shreveport, LA | 26 January 1943 | Shreveport, Louisiana |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 3 February 1944 - 2 May 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16. |
Other Baled out POW |
NW of Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 3 February 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Wilhelmshaven mission 3-Feb-44 in B-17 42-31056; crew baled out due to runaway engine. POW MACR 2494 |
Died |
Bartlett, TN | 13 May 2007 | |
Buried |
West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, TN | 17 May 2007 | West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee |
Based |
Thurleigh | 3 February 1944 | Assigned to 369BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Basic training |
Miami Beach, FL | Basic training Miami Beach, Florida |
Revisions
Chuck L Whetstone
Corrected date of 6-Feb-45 for departure date from Luft IV.
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; MACR 2494, 8th Af Losses, First Over Germany pg. 200, NARA, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
MACR 2494 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database