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name
DICKMAN, Charles William - Date of
birth
28 July 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri -
Hometown
Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-750184 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 February 1944 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea, near Rostock, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 8 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Rosemary Dickman (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31349 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Stars & Stripes 2nd Edition
Destination: Rostock, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aviation industry
MACR: 2777
More information
1st Lt Charles W. Dickman graduated from Smith-Cotton High School and from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. He worked as a metallurgic engineer.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Lubbock, Texas on 29 June 1942.
The primary target of the 304 bombers were the oil refineries of Poznan, Poland, but due to cloud cover, 263 bombers diverted to the secondary target of Rostock.
The plane was last sighted in the vicinity northwest of Rostock, Germany, over Mecklenburg Bay. It had earlier sustained rocket attacks from two JU 88s which caused the loss of one engine and consequent lagging on the formation. It dropped about 1,000 feet below the formation and was jumped by three enemy aircraft, which set the number 3 engine on fire. The plane was last seen, under control, gliding toward cloud cover with a JU 88 and ME 110 following it. Seven parachutes were sighted. The entire crew of 10 was killed.
2nd Lt Charles W. Dickman was washed ashore near Seebad Warnemunde, Rostock. He was initially buried at the New Cemetery at Rostock on 26 April 1944. An American investigation team disinterred his remains between 9 and 11 April 1947 and evacuated them to Ardennes.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII registration Card, www.newspapers.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy 1940