Charles Edward Coleman was born on July 30, 1923. He was the son of L.B. and Mabel Coleman. He enrolled in Clemson University with a major in Textile Engineering, and spent two years there before leaving to enlist. He enlisted in May, 1942 as a private in the Air Corps. Accepted for flight training, he served at several bases, among them Maxwell Field, AL; Pyote, TX; and Turner Field, GA. He was commissioned at Turner Field in September 1943. He married Betty Hunnicutt in October of that same year.

He was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group, located at Knettishall, England in early 1944. He was sent to the 563nd Bomb Squadron as the co-pilot on a B-17 crew headed by Lt L.L. Wilson. Coleman flew two missions, one of which was an abort. On March 23, 1944, he flew his second mission. It was a bombing raid on Brunswick, Germany.

The bomber formation was early at the escort pick-up point, and so had no fighter escort. Approximately 35-45 enemy aircraft, mostly FW-190s, engaged the bomber formation in vicious attacks. The enemy aircraft dove through the upper squadrons to target the lower squadron. In the melee, the B-17 of Wilson's was struck by an enemy aircraft. One wing fell off, and the B-17 spun into the ground. Observers state 4 parachutes were seen, but one was not open. Another version said three chutes.

2Lt Coleman is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: https://airforce.togetherweserved.com