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Personal info

Full name
BROOKER, Charles Franklin
Date of birth
14 May 1914
Age
30
Place of birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35516194
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
495th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 February 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Viersen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 19 21

Immediate family

Members
Robert Brooker (father)
Isadora Brooker (mother)
Robert E. Brooker (brother)
Virginia L. Brooker (sister)
Ann Brooker (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107698
Data
Type: B-26C-45
Destination: Viersen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a communication center
MACR: 12612

More information

S/Sgt Charles F Brooker graduated from Lincoln High School in 1932.

He enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio on 10 October 1942.

The aircraft was hit by flak in the right wing while on the bomb run in the target area. The right wing had been completely shot off. The aircraft flipped over and went down in a spin and was out of control. All six crew members were killed.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Lincoln High School 1932, www.findagrave.com - Hudson Louis