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name
PREIS, Charles M - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
St Louis, Missouri -
Hometown
St. Louis, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-701642 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 June 1944 - Place of
death
Gross-Beeren, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 8 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles J. Preis (father)
Agnes (Westerman) Preis (mother)
Milton E. Preis (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95122 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 6529
More information
2nd Lt Charles M. Preis graduated from McBride High School in 1942.He enlisted in the Air Corps on 5 November 1942 in St Louis, Missouri.
Attacked at the target by approximately 20 to 40 S/E enemy Fighters six of our aircrafts were shot down.
The bombardier, Lt Preis, was last seen preparing to bail out of the aircraft after he attempted to extinguish a fire in the bomb bay. It is not certain how he was killed but speculation is it may have occurred when enemy fighters made a pass at the aircraft as the crew was in the process of bailing out.
Lt Preis was awarded the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously. His mother received the medal in 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Louis Star and Times 15 February 1945, McBride High School 1942