Charles Victor Cunningham

Military
media-38948.jpeg UPL 38948 Capt. Charles V. Cunningham of the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Mary Jane". 359th Fighter Group collection

Linked to A/C

Object Number - UPL 38948 - Capt. Charles V. Cunningham of the 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Mary Jane".

From Revere, MA, Capt. Charles V. Cunningham enlisted on 16 January 1941 in Boston. Assigned to the 370th Fighter Squadron in April 1943 Capt. Cunningham flew 94 combat missions over two tours of duty with the 359th Fighter Group before returning home in August 1944.



29 April 1944: At 0715 briefing was held for Ramrod Penetration mission, the bombers' objective: Berlin. Sixteen planes took off. Three pilots returned early. Capt. Daniel D. McKee crash-landed at Framlingham. He was unhurt, but the plane was destroyed. No property was damaged. R/V with bombers from vicinity of Horn, escort to vicinity of Hanover. Near Elze many E/A attacked bombers, later intercepted by our fighters near Gehrden. Both Me 109s and FW 190, among E/A. Only claim was made by Lt. Cunningham, who destroyed one FW 190, seeing it smoke and spiral, also observing at least ten strikes around cockpit and under fuselage.





April 1943-Aug. 1944



Dec 24, 1943, on return from mission to Pas De Calais area in P-47 when he crashed in Surrey. RTD.



Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), ADSM, ACM, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x battle star).

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Mary Jane
  • Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 359th Fighter Group 350th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 397th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 406th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 513th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Invincible Faye
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

11 November 1918 Son of William Joseph and Margaret Lillian [Morganti] Cunningham.

Other

Promotion

East Wretham, UK 19 August 1944 Promoted to Captain.

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

25 August 1944 Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

Died

25 April 1991

Buried

Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Sumter County, FL 28 April 1991 Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida
Revere, Massachusetts

Based

East Wretham 25 August 1944 Assigned to 370FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified ASN upon entry, DFC w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster and AM w/5 Oak Leaf Clusters. He earned at least one bronze star device on the EAME Campaign Medal.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Transferred biography by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian from media record

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History, Losses of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces Vol. I, p. 439

Charles Victor Cunningham: Gallery (1 items)