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Personal info

Full name
JOHNSON, Charles William
Date of birth
29 December 1913
Age
29
Place of birth
Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33362761
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
525th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 June 1943
Place of death
Oldenburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 21 17

Immediate family

Members
Charles W. Johnson (father)
Margaret A. Johnson (mother)
Joseph Johnson (brother)
Margaret Johnson (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29864
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
MACR: 1759

More information

Charles W. Johnson graduated from Swissvale High School. He was employed at the Union Switch and Signal and Co.

He enlisted in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania on 11 April 1942.

The airplane was attacked by German fighters.

According to crew members who survived, the pilot attempted to get the airplane to crash land and save the wounded crew but it blew up in mid-air.

Two crew members were taken prisoner, eight men were killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Kathy McDermott, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph - 15 July 1943