Charles A Strackbine
MilitaryCharles Strackbine was Top Turret Gunner on B-17 #42-31565, shot down by Flak immediately after bombs away on a mission to Berlin on 4 March 1944 and crashed SE of Mons, Belgium. Evaded. Escape & Evasion report E&E 1586.
Charles Strackbine had taken basic training and aircraft mechanics school at Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, Texas, followed by flight engineer classes on B-25s at the North American Aviation factory in Inglewood, California. He then went on to gunnery school at Tyndall Field, Florida, before going overseas and being assigned to the 335th Squadron of the 95th Bomber Group.
After his return to the US, he was an instructor at the Las Vegas, Nevada gunnery school, being honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sergeant in November 1945. Back in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Strackbine then resumed his career as a musician, going on the road with show bands. He moved with wife Ruth to San Diego in 1953, in the area of which he pursued his music career until retirement in 1985.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16044786 and O-682089
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38046850
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33305496
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32294218 and O-692337
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39031820
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lassie Come Home
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 4 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
St Paul, Minnesota | 9 March 1919 | |
|
Enlisted |
23 October 1942 | ||
|
Other Evaded |
Villeselve, France | 4 March 1944 - 1 September 1944 | After landing in parachute in the Aisne Department of France, twisting his leg and foot, Charles Strackbine was collected from a safe house in Coucy-le-Cateau by Underground leader Etienne Dromas and taken to his home in Chauny on 10 March. On 12 March, Strackbine joined fellow crew member Floyd Noullet at the farm of Mr Masschelein in Villequier-Aumont and moved with him to stay with Mrs Ponchon at Beaumont-en-Beine. On 23 July Strackbine was placed at Villeselve, Oise Department (probably at Roger Duval's home) where he stayed until liberation. He joined Patton's 3rd Armored Division at Ham, north of Villeselve, and was back in England on 2 September 1944. |
|
Died |
El Cajon, near San Diego, California, United States | 8 June 2005 | |
|
Buried |
Greenwood Cemetery, San Diego, California, United States |
Revisions
MACR 2795
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWI POW records
Escape & Evasion report E&E 1586
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2795 / MACR 2795, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database