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Harrison Charles B.

Name:
Charles B. Harrison
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-664302
Unit:
410th Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-05-29
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Long Island National Cemetery, New York
Plot:
J
Row:
Grave:
14804
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:

Charles was born on May 28, 1921. Navigator of the B-17 42-29476 “Snafu”, they took off from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK, on May 29th, 1943, in order to bomb Rennes naval stockpiles. The crew had flown only five missions together since their arrival in England on May 12th. This one was a major operation, involving over 200 aircraft. The 72 B-17s “Snafu” was a part of were covered by a fighter escort to the coast. However, once over enemy territory they were intercepted by Luftwaffe fighters and were hit at 1630. Sgt Herman Philbeck was the only crew member able to jump, his oxygen mask on fire and his friends shot up in a disintegrating plane. He lost consciousness but regained it in time to land safely. He was immediately taken prisoner and sent to Stalag 17B in Braunau, Gneikendorf.