Westbrook Charles R.

Monuments

Executed Airmen Memorial- B-24(42-51967) 'Strange Cargo'

Name:

Charles R. Westbrook

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

34637190

Unit:

826th Bomber Squadron, 484th Bomber Group

Date of Death:

1945-03-04

State:

Mississippi

Cemetery:

Midway Cemetery, Meadville, Franklin County, Mississippi, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Charles R. Westbrook was born on January 5, 1925. He was the son of Charles Raford "Charlie" Westbrook and Perdelia Mary "Pie" Montgomery Westbrook. He served in the 826th Bomber Squadron, 484th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Engineer of B-24J #42-51967 nicknamed ''Strange Cargo'' during World War II.

On March 4, 1945, the B-24 Strange Cargo was hit by flak during a bombing mission over Graz, Austria, tearing off its nose turret and sending it into a spin. Two crew members died in the aircraft, while others bailed out. Of those who parachuted to safety, two were taken as POWs, but four were murdered after capture. When local police refused an SS order to execute the Americans, a German soldier killed four of them.

Sgt Westbrook was captured and shot by a German soldier after parachuting safely to the ground. He is now buried in the Midway Cemetery, Meadville, Franklin County, Mississippi, USA.

Source of information:paulmcguire1.com, aircrewremembered.com