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Personal info

Full name
RUDE, Charles Clarence
Date of birth
5 February 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey
Hometown
Sussex County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12095675
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 June 1943
Place of death
Dörphof, 6 kilometers south of Kappeln, southeast of Flensburg, just east of the shore line of the Baltic sea, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 32 29

Immediate family

Members
Philip Rude (father)
Ethel Rude (mother)
Willis Rude (brother)
Frances Rude (sister)
Philip Rude (brother)
Kenneth Rude (brother)
Harvey Rude (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3107
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Miss Carriage
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 2458 > 3687

More information

S/Sgt Charles C. Rude enlisted on 6 August 1942 from Newark, New Jersey.

The aircraft was downed by enemy fighters (3 FW-190's) off Kiel, Germany. With the aircraft on fire and out of control, the crew bailed out over the coastal area North West of Kiel but a strong westerly wind blew them over the Baltic sea. Three of the crew survived the crash (Lt Robert M. Webster (Pilot), 2nd Lt Thomas G. Decaro (Navigator) and T/Sgt Zephan A. Barrows) and became POW's (eventually T/Sgt Zephan A. Barrows died as POW), while the others landed in the Baltic sea and were presumed to have drowned.
A memorial marker has been placed for Staff Sergeant Charles C. Rude at North Hardyston Cemetery, Hamburg, Sussex County, New Jersey.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment record, http://usaafdata.com/ - USAAF Personnel Records, www.fold3.com, http://www.8thafhs.com, http://www.flensted.eu.com/, http://www.andreaszapf.de/blog-chronicles-media/USAAF-Mission-63-Bremen-and-Kiel.pdf, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Lynn, Peter Schouteten