Charles R Johnston
Military ROLL OF HONOURUploaded
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #42-31773, Killed In Action (KIA). Flew 29 missions.
1st Lieutenant Charles R. Johnston was born May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Frances Johnston, his mother, Mrs. Clarence Johnston, and his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. John Horning son Charles R Johnston Jr. His hometown was La Junta, Colorado.
On April 29, 1944, he was the Pilot of B-17 tail #42-31773 of the 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron, when it was downed over Rautheim, Germany. He died as a POW in a German hospital in Braunschweig the same day.
He is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 29 April 1944
- Date: 9 March 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
29 May 1916 | 1st Lieutenant Charles R. Johnston was born May 29, 1916. His next of kin was his wife, Frances Johnston, his mother, Mrs. Clarence Johnston, and his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. John Horning. Son Charles R Johnston Jr. His hometown was La Junta, Colorado. | |
Died |
29 April 1944 | On April 29, 1944, he was the Pilot of B-17 tail #42-31773 of the 385th Bomb Group, 549th Bomb Squadron, when it was downed over Rautheim, Germany. He died as a POW in a German hospital in Braunschweig the same day. | |
Buried |
He is buried at the US Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. |
Revisions
80 years ago about this time of day over Germany my Dad’s B-17G #42-31773 was under attack by Goering’s Abbyville kids. Dad’s plane went down around 11:17 that day. Truman Smith wrote about that attack and gave me a description of what it was like. I have only been able to read that chapter in his book “The Wrong Stuff” only once the day I got the book. I talked to him via the old 385th group on Yahoo back in the late 90’s he called it the worst day of his life. Took me over 50 years to even find out what happened that day...Wish Dad could have made it home. Dad and Joe Parker were killed that day. Bill Domer the right waist gunner saw Dad in the hospital but was not allowed to see him. Unconscious with some liquid coming out of his ears.. died that night around 9:30.
Rough to live without a father. Miss him all the time. Just felt I should write something today to honor my Dad.
Records of my Dad from research over the last 70+ years of my life. I was told very little about Dad. A lot of research, phone calls and letters gave me a small piece of what my Dad was like. i was born 5 months and 4 days before Dad's B-17G was shot down by fighters over Germany.
best description of the last mission flown on April 29, 1944 is given by Truman Smith in his Book "the Wrong Stuff" also from phone call's to Truman in the 1990's. he called it the worst day of his life.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
mission log 1st Lt Charles R Johnston flew on mission 253 to Berlin
personal diary of my Dad 1st Lt Charles R Johnston Pilot of B-17 42-31746 when he had to crash land at Honning
Brought in information from a duplicate entry. Source:
MACR 4456 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
incorrect date when Dad's B-17 was shot down. April not May 1944
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4456