Find a Grave Memorial ID: 56305849 The following information listed on his Find A Grave memorial page and was probably written by John Dowdy, memorial manager.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56305849/charles_ray_smith

Gunner S/Sgt. Charles R. Smith MIA/KIA

Hometown: North Carolina

Squadron: 67th BS 44th Bomb Group

Service # 14165246

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal

Pilot 1st/Lt. Walter R. Bateman KIA MD.

Target: Airfield at Foggia

Missing Air Crew Report Details

USAAF MACR#:

Date Lost: 16-Aug-43

Serial Number: 41-23817

Aircraft Model B-24

Aircraft Letter: G

Aircraft Name: SUZY~Q

Location: Capo Stilo Italy

Cause: ME 109 fighters 10 KIA

Notes: After "Operation Tidal Wave" the 44th BG remained in North Africa to support the Sicily invasion. This ship SUZY-Q, was the most famous ship of the 67th Squadron and had led the Group on the Ploesti raid. The plane was lost on 16 Aug 1943 on a mission to the north airfield at Foggia, Italy. The plane was last seen burning on the Italian beach believed to be Capo Stilo.

Sgt. Smith was declared MIA August 16 1943 appears

Tablets of the Missing at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

Nettuno, Italy, later declared KIA August 17 1944. His body was never recovered.

Crew SUZY~Q

1st/Lt. Walter R. Bateman Pilot

2nd/Lt. John T. Ellis

2nd/Lt. William C. Travis, Jr

T/Sgt. Robert D. Chapman

T/Sgt Herbert F. Post

S/Sgt Joe A. Stevenson Gunner

S/Sgt. Charles R. Smith Gunner

S/Sgt. Michael A. Cianciolo Gunner

S/Sgt. Adolph P. Aguirre Gunner

B24 41-23817 was flown by a different crew on operation tidal wave the low level raid on Ploesti oil refinery.

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Son of Thomas William Smith Sr & Rachel Inez (McCall) Smith

Full Name: Charles R Smith

Army Serial Number: 14165246

Enlistment Place: Camp Croft South Carolina

Enlistment Date: 20 Oct 1942

Army Branch: Air Corps

Branch: Army

Race Or Ethnicity: White

Residence: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law

Source Of Army Personnel: Civil Life

Level Of Education: 4 years of high school

Occupation: Semiskilled warehousing, storekeeping, handling, loading, unloading, and related occupations, n.e.c.

Marital Status: Single, without dependents

Birth Date: 1922

Birth Place: North Carolina

Source Box Number: 0166

Source Film Reel Number: 2.23

Conflict: World War II

Served For: United States of America

Source: Fold3, US, World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946 : accessed Dec 2, 2024), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/831/us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946

Bio #467 compiled on 02 Dec 2024 by Gerry Lawton

Find A Grave Memorial ID: 56305849