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 | Francis, Charles Dean, III ‡ |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Serial Number | O-717645 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #144 dated 22 July 1944, effective 22 July 1944. |
| Duty | Navigator |
| MOS | 1034 - Navigator |
| Last Duty Date | 25 August 1944 |
| Results |
Prisoner Of War POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11) |
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 8466⇓ (25.908 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Rainey, Harry Wesley, Jr⇗ | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Rowe, J Z (IO)⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Francis, Charles Dean, III | Navigator | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Kendall, Walter Selium, Jr⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
| SGT. Sturdivant, Donald Barrett⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Evans, Jack Clifton⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | POW |
| CPL. Mosier, Richard Nelson⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| CPL. Gordon, Norman Hirsch⇗ | Tail Gunner | KIA |
| SGT. Knowlton, Alfred Bachelor⇗ | Flexible Gunner | EV |
| PFC. Thornhill, John Grover⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 |
Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France |
Navigator | 42‑97204⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Group, High Squadron. Dropped bombs early. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 170⇗ | 3 August 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France |
Navigator | 42‑37788⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit I Group Hot Camera Ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 171⇗ | 4 August 1944 |
Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde, Germany |
Navigator | 42‑37788⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 173⇗ | 5 August 1944 |
Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Langenhagen, Germany |
Navigator | 42‑37788⇗ |
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France |
Navigator | 43‑37843⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 178⇗ | 12 August 1944 |
Target: "Landing Ground" Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: La Perthe, France |
Navigator | 43‑37990⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 181⇗ | 16 August 1944 |
Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Delitzsch, Germany |
Navigator | 44‑6080⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 182⇗ | 18 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical: Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Vise, Belgium |
Navigator | 42‑32106⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High section deputy, low group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 185⇗ | 26 August 1944 |
Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
Navigator | 42‑97204⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Lead group. At 1228 hrs, shortly after leaving target, aircraft observed feathering #4 engine and dropped down very rapidly, falling behind, but under control; crashed near the Oldebroek army training area, Wezep, The Netherlands. MACR 8466 Sortie Report⇗ |