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name
FORTIN, Charles A - Date of
birth
1918 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Canada -
Hometown
Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31152090 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
328th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wellmannsbruch, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 22 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Dalvida Fortin (father)
Jeanne (Dufour) Fortin (mother)
Elsie A. Fortin (sister)
Fern Fortin (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50606 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Osnabruck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 9470
More information
Sgt Fortin was state Interscholastic diving champion in 1938, the year in which he was graduated from Brunswick High School.He worked as an insurance salesman and enlisted in Portland, Maine on 28 August 1942.
The airplane suffered a direct hit on the number three engine while over the target area. The explosion tore a section of the engine apart and broke the propeller in several pieces. Some section of the broken propeller struck the right side of the fusilage at the radio operator's position and tore a hole in it about four and one-half feet long and one foot wide. Within a few seconds after the explosion the airplane dropped out of formation and headed downward.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Eight men were killed. They were initially buried at the POW cemetery of Achmer airbase.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: The Lewiston Daily 30 December 1944, www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet