Charles W. Payne was born on October 9, 1918 in Maryland. He resided in Harford County, Maryland and was a member of the Maryland National Guard prior to the war. His National Guard unit was called into full time active Army service on February 3, 1941, prior to the war, from Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted, at that time, as being employed as a Salesperson and also as Single, with dependents.

Charles served as a Sergeant and Photographer on F-7B #44-41678, 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 8th Photographic Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. During the war enlisted men could apply to become officers. When they did so they were considered to be "Aviation Cadets" until such time as they completed their training. Which is why his headstone notes he was an Aviation Cadet even though he still retained the rank of Sergeant.

F-7B #44-41678 took off, with a crew of 9, on a combat photo mission from Cox's Bazaar, India. Shortly after takeoff they crashed, for an unknown reason, into the sea off Bengal. Charles was "Killed In Action" in this crash. He was originally interred on Kurushaul Island, India and was later reinterred in the Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA on September 9, 1949.

Sgt Payne was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is 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