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name
BECKER, Charles P - Date of
birth
21 October 1914 -
Age
29 - Place of
birth
Buffalo, Erie County, New York -
Hometown
Erie County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32279560 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/gunner -
Unit
558th Bombardment Squadron,
387th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Becker (father)
George A. Forsyth (stepfather)
Julia Becker (mother)
Susan Becker (sister)
John C. Becker (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-31660 -
Data
Type: B-26B
Destination: Venlo, the Netherlands
MACR: 2334
More information
Sgt. Charles P. Becker graduated from South Park High School and was a crane operator at Republic Steel Corp. before entering the service.Enemy fighters pulled up close behind us. They hit the top of the wing and set fire to the main gastank. Dropped out of formation, fighters following and scored hits in tail, fire was seen spreading. Stalled on its tail, bomb doors were seen to open but no one bailed out.
The B-26 lost further altitude and then the tail seemed to fall off. The aircraft entered a cloud bank and seemed to desintegrate, entirely aflame. This happened at 12.26 hours 5142N – 0305E, which is about 30 km west of Westkapelle on Walcheren Island over the North Sea.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.b26.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, Buffalo Courier Express - 14 April 1946; New York, State Census, 1915
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Buffalo Courier Express - 10 April 1945