Charles R Earls was born on April 9, 1924 in Ogden, Utah. He had enlisted in the Army Air Forces and he had the rank of Second Lieutenant. Occupation or specialty was Pilot. Service number was O-767163. Served with 395th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group.



On November 19th, 1944 he was flying a P-47D (42-76302) on a dive bombing mission. Near the German town of Heistern, he was jumped by a group of FW-190s and shot down. 1st Lt. James Ivey was involved in this encounter and gave this statement in MACR # 10528:



"I was leading black flight in the target area when we were bounced from above by FW 190s. After a few seconds of combat I observed a FW 190 come from above and it was on the tail of a P-47. This P-47 was flying number two to another flight leader and the FW 190 fired a long burst. I observed smoke from the P-47 and he gave a lurch and went off in a steep dive to the right. As I came in on the FW 190 the FW 190 peeled off to the left and down. I started after him and then my wing man was hit and I broke off combat. The P-47 mentioned above could have been Lt. Earls as no one else observed him during the encounter. Number 3 man in Purple flight reported seeing one white parachute in the air and this could also have been Lt. Earls as Lt. Earls did not return to the home base."



Source: War Department, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Missing Air Crew Report, Statement by James M Ivey, Jr, 1st lt, Air Corps, Pilot, 305th Ftr Sq, http://www.footnote.com