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Personal info

Full name
HOWARD, Charles J Jr
Date of birth
13 January 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Washington, Daviess County, Indiana
Hometown
Washington, Daviess County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
15063132
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 February 1944
Place of death
Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Charles J. Howard (father)
Francis H. (Rhoads) Howard (mother)
Deloris Howard (sister)
Elizabeth Ann Howard (sister)
John Howard (brother)
Patricia Howard (sister)
Charlotte Ann Howard (sister)
William Howard (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31036
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Nobody´s Baby
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR: 2285

More information

Sgt Charles J. Howard Jr. graduated from Washington High School in 1941 where he participated in track, football and the Boys Glee Club.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 7 July 1941.

The aircraft was apparently hit by flak, was straggling some 4,000 feet lower than the formation (about 18,000 feet). All four engines were turning over and the aircraft seemed to be under control. Flak was bursting around it when it was last seen.

The entire crew of 10 men were killed. Eight of them are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten: Charles J. Howard Jr., Wayne R. Goodwin , Max Slotnick, James O. Nichols, Raymond W. Fritzinger, Burton S. Davidson, Joseph H. Dippel and John L. Wenger. Two, Frank J. Zitkovic and Bascom O. Clifton, are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.

The pictures were taken in high school in 1940 and 1941.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, Andy Swinnen

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Washington High School Yearbook 1940/1941