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name
SPEIER, Charles Barrett - Date of
birth
21 March 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17154551 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Nose Gunner -
Unit
409th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 April 1944 - Place of
death
Bourgogne-Fresne, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 38 | 47 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Hugo M. Speier (father)
Catharine L. (Hixon) Speier (mother)
Barbara B. Speier (sister)
Hugo H. Speier (brother)
Carol V. Speier (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-100248 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Bar Fly
Destination: Pforzheim, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city center
MACR: 3563
More information
S/Sgt Charles B. Speier was employed at the Modern sign Company before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 30 October 1942. He was sent overseas in November 1943.The aircraft was hit by flak over the target and during the return flight, the formation was attacked by enemy fighters.
Nine crew members were killed and one was taken prisoner.
Sgt McCallen was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Champigneul, France.
S/Sgt Speier is remembered at Grandview Cemetery in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
A monument near the corner of the Rue de la Libération and the Avenue du Dr. Manichon in Bourgogne-Fresne, France was erected near the site were two B-24s crashed on 1 April 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett, www.google.com, www.newspapers.com – Star Tribune - 13 August 1944
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy / Gary Hawthorne