Charles R. Thompson was born in 1922 in Oklahoma. He resided in Craig County, Oklahoma prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on October 21, 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a farmer and also as Single, without dependents. He served as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner on B-17G #42-107179, 817th Bomber Squadron, 483rd Bomber Group, U.S. Air Force during World War II.

B-17G #42-102862 took off from Sterparone, Italy on a bombing mission over Memmingen, Germany on July 18, 1944. Prior to "bombs away" they, along with 6 other B-17's, were attacked by an overwhelming number of German fighter aircraft. B-17G #42-102862, along with other B-17's, were shot down and crashed near Memmingen. The entire crew, except for S/Sgt. Thompson, of #42-107179 parachuted out and became POW's of the German Army.

Charles was "Killed In Action" after parachuting out of the B-17. One crew member reported that Charles' parachute had caught on fire causing him to fall to his death. He is now buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. His name is listed on a group headstone because his remains are comingled with those of his crewmates.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com