Charles Held
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

In February 1945, Technical Sergeant Charles Held was assigned as a Radio Operator on the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the 751st Bomber Squadron, 457th Bomber Group (Heavy), 94th Combat Bombardment Wing, 1st Bombardment Division, based in RAF Glatton (USAAF Station 130), England. The unit was engaged in the strategic bombing campaign of Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe during 1944–1945.

On 19 February 1945, TSGT Held and his crew were returning to RAF Glatton in the B-17G Flying Fortress "Pakawalup" (Serial Number 42-31630) after completing a mission at Nuremburg, Germany. However, the aircraft experienced battle damage during the mission and had to attempt an emergency landing at RAF Alconbury at Huntingdon, England. "Pakawalup" crashed and burned. The entire crew was killed.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Medal with Award Numeral 3
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge

Burial

Technical Sergeant Charles Held is buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District in Cambridgeshire, England in Plot A, Row 5, Grave 24.

[Photo of the B-17G Flying Fortress "Pakawalup" courtesy of www.457thbombgroup.org.]