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name
BLACKBURN, Charles Edward - Date of
birth
13 January 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
West Virginia -
Hometown
Pike County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15071592 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 February 1943 - Place of
death
12 miles northwest of the western tip of Terschelling Island, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William. A. Blackburn (father)
Hazel S. (Savage) Blackburn (mother)
William Blackburn II (brother)
Betty J. Fitch (half-sister)
John Fitch jr. (half-brother)
Fran Fitch (half-sister)
Ruth Fitch (half-sister)
Ada L. Fitch (step-sister)
Ann Fitch (step-sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24544 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pennsylvania Polka
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 3557/4635
More information
Sgt Charles E. Blackburn worked in a machine shop.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Hayes, Ohio on 11 December 1941.
After suffering damage during the bomb run, the airplane was attacked by FW 190's on the return flight shortly after 12.40 hrs., knocking out #3 engine.
The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered. Seven are remembered at the Walls of the Missing of Margraten, three are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial of Cambridge.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov,
www.ancestry.com - Mackin Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Mackin Family Tree