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name
REIDY, Charles E - Date of
birth
16 February 1915 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Columbiana County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35381792 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
401st Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 August 1943 - Place of
death
Hergarten, 12 miles south of Düren, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 7 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas J. Reidy (father)
Elizabeth J. Reidy (mother)
Eugene T. Reidy (brother)
John C. Reidy (brother)
William N. Reidy (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5437 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Frank's Nightmare
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombardment
MACR: 282
More information
Statement from Lt Robert E. Nichols, O-1699081:"A/C out of 91st Group behind and to our left (believed to be A/C 437) was hit by flak at Woenselrecht and then by E/A at or about 1410. A/C snapped up out of formation and half fell into tight spin getting tighter and tighter. Last seen at 1413, at an altitude of 18000 feet in vicinity of 5014N 0711E. It is believed that one parachute came from this A/C."
Of the 10 men crew 9 were KIA. 1 Crewmember ended up POW.
Tech. Sgt. Charles R. Reidy, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Reidy of near Negley, now is listed as killed in action after being unreported for a year following his loss in a raid in Germany. T/Sgt Reidy was a turret gunner on a Flying Fortress that was shot down over Frankfurt Aug. 17, 1943. He entered the service May 26, 1942 and was sent overseas in June, 1943.
He was born Feb. 16, 1915 and was graduated from East Palestine High School in 1933. Before entering the service he was employed by the W.S. George pottery in East Palestine.
Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Evening Review
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Michel Beckers, Joe Lamplot