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name
FERRIN, Charles Clifford - Date of
birth
25 May 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
South Dakota -
Hometown
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17080360 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turrett Gunner -
Unit
332nd Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
5 November 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, 300 yard off the coast of Haamstede, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Amos G. Ferrin (father)
Emma A. Ferrin (mother)
Viola Ferrin (sister)
Guy M. Ferrin (brother)
Phyllis L. Ferrin (sister)
Carroll H. Ferrin (brother)
Raymond R. Ferrin (brother)
Marvin J. Ferrin (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30166 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: You Cawnt Miss it
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard and the synthetic oil refineries
MACR: 1043
More information
S/Sgt Charles C. Ferrin was an actor.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 17 June 1942. He was graduated from Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School in 1942 and received his wings and the rating of a flight sergeant. He had been overseas since 1 April 1943.
The following was written by Harry Slater formerly of the 94th Bomb Group:
"On November 5th, the 94th launched 32 aircraft to bomb the synthetic oil refineries northwest of Gelsenkirchen. Since the Ploesti oil production center had been bombed, this target was considered important to the German cause. Nineteen aircraft formed the lead group of the 1st Air Task Force.
Flak was light over the Dutch coast but became intense in the target area. Lt. James K. Killian and crew of the 332nd squadron in aircraft 42-30166 (You Cawn't Miss it) were observed under heavy attack. After a time, the aircraft exploded with one parachute blossoming out of the debris. Eight aircraft suffered minor flak damage".
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, eight were killed. The remains of S/Sgt Ferrin were never recovered.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.findagrave.com, www.angelfire.com/my/mighty8thlh/hodyost.html, www.newspapers.com - Arbus- Leader
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Hilary Funke 8th Grade, Brandon Valley Middle School, South Dakota, www.newspapers.com - Arbus- Leader