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Personal info

Full name
SHIPP, Charles Aubrey
Date of birth
15 October 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Sinton, San Patricio County, Texas
Hometown
Refugio County, Texas

Military service

Service number
18025053
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
715th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 August 1944
Place of death
North of Ludwigshafen, between Worms and Oppenheim, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 13 4

Immediate family

Members
Oliver L. Shipp (father)
Katye C. (Sheeran) Shipp (mother)
Leona Shipp (sister)
Eugene Shipp (brother)
Walter Shipp (brother)
Mary Shipp (sister)
Josephine Shipp (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95134
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Chemical Plant
MACR: 8469

More information

T/Sgt Charles A. Shipp worked in the production of bakery products.

He joined the Regular Army in Kelly Field, Texas on 9 July 1940.

Sgt James R. Boatright:
"We were struck on a course of approximately 180 degrees about 1.5 minutes from our primary target at Ludwigshafen, Germany. The aircraft was severed between station five and six just aft of the Sperry ball turret. At this time, all crew members were at the battle stations. Myself, the tail gunner, and one waist gunner were able to parachute from the freely spinning tail section of the aircraft. The other portion of the craft crashed out of control after both pilot and co-pilot made good their escape. I witnessed the burning of the craft while falling on my parachute, but was taken prisoner immediately upon reaching the ground. As a prisoner, I was unable to check on the fate of the rest of my crew, but as no trace of them has been found, I naturally assumed them dead. As near as I can determine, the crash occurred directly north of Ludwigshafen, between Worms and Oppenheim."

Six of the crew members died, four survived, and were taken prisoner of war.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Texas Birth Certificates / 1920 census, www.fold3.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Caller-Times - 22 March 1945