Charles R. Kennedy was born on March 19, 1924, in River Edge, New Jersey. He enlisted in the service on January 1, 1943. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-97746 during World War II.

On October 15, 1944, the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from RAF Nuthampstead (Station 131) in Hertfordshire, England. The aircraft was en route to a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany. Tragically, the plane crashed into the moat at Anstey, Hertfordshire, and exploded, resulting in the deaths of all ten crew members on board.

SSgt Kennedy is now buried in the Saint Catharine's Cemetery, Sea Girt, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. Charles R. Kennedy's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org