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Personal info

Full name
RICHEY, Charles Virgil
Date of birth
15 August 1921
Age
21
Place of birth
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Hometown
Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia

Military service

Service number
34352496
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 August 1943
Place of death
Heidgen, southwest of Bonn, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 21 4

Immediate family

Members
John H. Richey (father)
Elizabeth E. (Stone) Richey (mother)
Bill Richey (brother)
James W. Richey (brother)
Christine Richey (sister)
Earl J. Richey (brother)
Donald E. Richey (brother)
Barbara Richey (sister)
Annette Richey (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5806
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil industries
MACR: 288

More information

Charles V. Richey was a sales clerk.

He enlisted at Fort McPherson, in Atlanta, Georgia, on 3 July 1942.

On the way to the target, this B-17 was hit by flak and fell out of formation. It was then attacked by enemy fighters and exploded.

Six crew members were taken prisoner, and four men were killed.

Charles V. Richey was initially buried on 14 August 1943 in Waldorf-Bornheim, Germany.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, www.384thbombgroup.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.384thbombgroup.com