TSgt. Charles Bennet was killed in action on Operation Tidal Wave onboard his assigned B-24D Liberator bomber, Hell's Wench, 42-40994.



He was dispatched to North Africa in 1943 with the 93rd Bomb Group to take part in Operation Tidal Wave. He was part of the crew of the B-24D Liberator, Hell's Wench, 42-40994) on 1 August 1943. On approaching the target area, the 93rd Bomb Group's element lead pilot, Col K.K. Compton, turned at the wrong initial point and headed east toward Bucharest. Sgt. Bennet's pilot, Col. Addison Baker, and several other shocked pilots in the 93rd and 376th Bomb Groups, immediately broke radio silence and attempted to warn the mission commander, General Ent and Col. Compton in, Teggie Ann, but when they failed to respond, Col. Baker and a number of other pilots in their element, broke formation and led the pilots of the two bomb groups, who wanted to bomb their targets, back toward Ploesti, and targets of opportunity.



On approach to the target, Hell's Wench, took several direct flak hits. Col. Baker jettisoned his bombs, as both wings were hit, the aircraft began leaking fuel and became engulfed in flames. Shortly thereafter, Baker, apparently, decided to break formation and pull up to give his crewmen an opportunity to bail out, but the aircraft lost speed in the climb, rolled over, crashed, and exploded in flames, killing everyone onboard, including Sgt. Bennet. KIA. 1 Aug 1943