Memorial

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F/O Charles C. Gratiot graduated from Fremont High School and San Francisco Junior College. Before entering service he was employed as a shipfitter at a local shipyard.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in San Francisco, California on 26 October 1942.

Eyewitness account by S/Sgt Harry A. Bennett, tailgunner on aircraft n° 42-31509:
"The first thing I saw was fighters pouncing on the entire High Box where this airplane was flying. This was about ten minutes after bombs away. The pilot had to feather his No. 3 and 4 engines, his No. 1 engine was set on fire, and the Tail Gunner's position was shot off. He started losing altitude under control. Then, when he got to cloud level, he started bouncing and I saw parachutes come out. Then I saw the ship hit the ground and explode on the ground."

Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Two crew members were killed in the plane. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Friedberg. One crew member, 2nd Lt Peter Mandros bailed out but was executed.

A surviving crew member reports indicate that F/O Charles C. Gratiot was killed at his position in the plane and his body fell out when it went in its final dive.