Memorial

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S/Sgt Charles E. McDermott enlisted in New York City, New York on 29 April 1942.
He went overseas with the 96th Bombardment Group on April 1, 1943 and entered combat in May as an Assistant Armorer in a B-17 bomber flying out of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk, England.

The plane was last seen over the North Sea. They had suffered continuous fighter attacks which set the plane on fire. Six crew members bailed out at about 5000 feet over the North Sea as six parachutes were seen in the air. Only the bombardier, Lawrence Robert Wolford survived. In his post war statements, together with apparently eye witness statements from other planes in the formation, it is believed that the regular co-pilot (who was flying in the tail gunner position) was killed in the fighter attacks. Also the Radio Operator was believed to have been killed prior to the bailout. There is no mention or speculation in the MACR of exactly what might have happened to Postlewait.
Of the six who bailed out, three have been identified as Wolford, the bombardier (and only survivor), the navigator Humke and the assistant navigator (listed as an observer) Howell. Howell's body washed ashore near the German/Danish border in August.
His body washed ashore at Ballum, Denmark August 29. Originally buried in Denmark among the unknown, he was identified by his ID tag.