Tate, Charles Forest, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Tate, Charles Forest, Jr   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 35478363   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943 and 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 13 March 1943., effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 17 August 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 24 January 1920
  • Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 294⇓ (1.307 MB)



Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Lee, Roy James⇗PilotTR
Flt. Ofcr. Smith, Gorman W⇗Co-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Anderson, Howard F⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Perez, Wilber Lee, "Buck"⇗BombardierTR
S/SGT. Wilson, Hoyt Weber⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Tate, Charles Forest, JrFlexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Battin, Carl Emrey⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Lilly, Harry (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Puzio, Benjamin Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Priest, Delmar Fay⇗Flexible GunnerTR

Crew History

While the Lee Crew was assigned to the 546th BS on 13 March 1943 at Wendover, most of its members were transferred elsewhere prior to going overseas. Tate remained with the squadron and became a regular member of the Floyd Edwards Crew, flying with them to England and also on several missions. He was on the Sweningsen Crew when they were shot down on 17 August 1943.

Smith apparently served in the Pacific with the 5th Bombardment Group flying B-24s. Battin served with the 100th BG and ended up a POW. Anderson was transferred out of the 546th Bomb Squadron on 30 March 1943.

The following were involved in a flying accident in Oregon on 1 August 1943, and all perished except Perez: Lee, Lilly, Perez, Priest, Puzio, and Wilson.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 7 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Tail gunner's feet were frostbitten.
Sortie Report⇗
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #3 engine running rough, low oil pressure and smoking; feathered engine.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Tail Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑5855⇗ Combat Mission Credit
The pilot was wounded shortly after crossing the enemy coast, so co-pilot flew most of the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Damaged by flak; crashed near Stangenroth (Bad Kissingen area), Germany. MACR 294
Sortie Report⇗

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