Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Name | Downe, Charles Owen ‡ |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Serial Number | O-678624 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #68 dated 11 August 1943, effective 11 August 1943. |
| Duty | Navigator |
| MOS | 1034 - Navigator |
| Last Duty Date | 6 September 1943 |
| Results | Evaded Capture |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 6 September 1943 per General Orders #52, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 16 March 1944. |
| Additional Information |
|
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 776⇓ (10.353 MB) Escape & Evasion Report # 411⇓ (5.593 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Aufmuth, Lester Herbert⇗ | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. McMath, James Gordon⇗ | Co-pilot | EV |
| 2nd Lt. Downe, Charles Owen | Navigator | EV |
| 2nd Lt. Jensen, James Chris, Jr⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
| S/SGT. Corpening, Robert Clark⇗ | Togglier | KIA |
| T/SGT. Price, Robert Kyle⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Wagner, James Loren⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | EV |
| S/SGT. Bachmann, Carl Edward⇗ | Tail Gunner | EV |
| S/SGT. Smith, Joseph Hughes⇗ | Tail Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Fisher, Charles Alfred⇗ | Flexible Gunner | EV |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15⇗ | 15 August 1943 |
Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France |
Navigator | 42‑3429⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead, group deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 18⇗ | 27 August 1943 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Watten, France |
Navigator | 42‑29703⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Accidentally dropped two bombs in target area. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 19⇗ | 31 August 1943 |
Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France |
Navigator | 42‑5720⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Sortie Report⇗ |
| 20⇗ | 3 September 1943 |
Target: Air Park and Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France |
Navigator | 42‑5720⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 21⇗ | 6 September 1943 |
Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany |
Navigator | 42‑5720⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Damaged by enemy aircraft; insufficient fuel to return to England; made a forced landing in field near Beauvais, France; MACR 776. Sortie Report⇗ |