Howell Charles Edward, Jr.

Name:

Charles Edward, Jr. Howell

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-817445

Unit:

603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-11-21

State:

Maryland

Cemetery:

New Cathedral Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA

Plot:

II-778

Row:

Grave:

1

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Charles Edward Howell Jr. was born on August 24, 1917, in Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland. He was the son of Charles Edward Howell Sr. and Margaret Susan Matthews Howell. He was married to Rita Lula Mudd Howell. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-17 #43-38147 nicknamed ''Fuddy Duddy'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, the aircraft was shot down during a mission over Merseburg, Germany. Operating from Nuthampstead, England, the aircraft was heavily damaged by German fighters. Pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. Howell and co-pilot 2nd Lt. William M. Bryan kept the aircraft stable long enough for three crew members to bail out. The plane crashed near Trügleben, Germany. Seven crew members were killed, and the three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

1Lt Howell is now buried in the New Cathedral Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA. Charles E. Howell's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org//span>