Charles Francis “Charlie” Hicks was born to Clarence H. Hicks and Margaret L. Hicks in Baltimore, MD, in 1925. He was graduated in 1942 from Mount St. Joseph's High School in Baltimore. Charlie enlisted in the Reserves on March 11, 1943 in North Carolina, eventually joining the Air Corps of the U.S. Army, and he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was assigned to the 73rd Bomb Wing, 500th Bomb Group, 882nd Bomb Squadron; specifically, Hicks was the right gunner on Z Sq 25 (B-29 Superfortress #42-24785) christened "Homing De-Vice".

On January 23, 1945, he and his crew left their base on Saipan (with several other B-29's) to bomb a military target in Nagoya, Japan. Shortly after dropping her bombs, Z Sq 25 (leading the first squadron) was attacked by flak and, almost simultaneously, by a Japanese "Tony" fighter plane. Z-25's #4 engine caught fire and Z-25 dropped out of formation; even as Z-25 headed toward the ocean, several Japanese fighters swarmed and attacked the "Homing De-Vice." At about 15,000 feet, engine #4 exploded and the right wing tip broke off, causing the plane to turn over on her back and go into a spin. She crashed in the ocean about 15 miles off the Japanese coast; no parachutes were seen.

Although at least one officer wanted to take a plane the next day to search for survivors, the request was denied because it was deemed too dangerous. The crew was presumed dead. Charlie was 19 (going on 20) years old at the time of his death. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. His name is commemorated on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Chalres was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov