Memorial

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T/Sgt Charles E. Bennett was born in Canada and moved to Plattsmouth when he was three years of age. He graduated from Plattsmouth High School and was a mechanic at the Gorder Garage.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Crook, Nebraska on 18 December 1941. He was sent overseas on 1 August 1943.

Three miles from the target, the bomber was badly damaged by enemy ground fire and set on fire. More than 230 anti-aircraft guns, supported by many barrage balloons, smoke pots and German fighter planes were in the area of the refineries. Lt Col Addison E. Baker, the pilot and Maj. John L. Jerstad, the co-pilot, ignored the fact that they were flying above a field suitable for a forced landing. They kept on course. After the bombs were released on the target, they kept on trying to give the plane more altitude so the crew members could bail out, but the fire in the ship became so intense that it made further progress impossible. The airplane crashed into the target area, killing erverybody on board. Lt Col Baker and Maj Jerstad were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for this action.