Charles Richard Wilson
Military
Bottom L-R Thurman M Geren, Charles R Wilson, William W Jeffers and Harry E Cobb.
Daughter
Object Number - UPL 25889 - Top L-R Michael Gagich, Gerald S Harvey, Willam R Boree, Adelbert D Shereck, and Jack M Harrington. Bottom L-R Thurman M Geren, Charles R Wilson,...
Most significant experience occurred on 16 February 1945 as consequence of bombing mission of Gelsenkirchen oil refinery. Because of flak damage to aircraft during and following bomb run, we were unable to return to England and were forced to ditch in the North Sea about 10 miles off Holland. The aircraft broke in two just aft of radio room. The 9-man crew survived the ditching and subsequent very cold and wet exposure for over 12 hours until washing ashore at a German coastal installation near Haarlem, Holland. All became Prisoner of War (POW) until liberated by U. S. Forces from Stalag VIIA at Mooseberg, Germany on 29 April 1945. Plane was B-17 'Carrie B' #4338187
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19161773 and O-710455
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33683670
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38569129
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17136337
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2072764
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Carrie B II
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 16 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Missouri, United States | 16 December 1921 | |
|
Enlisted |
Los Angeles, California, United States | 11 April 1942 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
IJmuiden, The Netherlands | 16 February 1945 - 29 April 1945 | Interned at Stalag XIIID in Nuremburg, and Stalag VIIA in Moosburg |
|
Died |
10 October 1953 | in a flying accident off the coast of the Galápagos Islands | |
|
Buried |
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California, United States | ||
| Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California, United States |
Revisions
MACR 12246
Détails at http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt058033tb/entire_text/
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12446 / MACR 12446,
href="http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1911">http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1911> / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
