Charles Sheldon Oldfield
MilitaryImage from IWM Object File OMD 8915, Medals and insignia belonging to Charles Oldfield in IWM collections.
Charles Oldfield was a P-51 Pilot in the 78th Fighter Group / 84th Fighter Squadron. On return from the 25 February 1945 bomber escort mission to Nuremberg, Germany, low on fuel, he decided to crash-land his plane. Landed 1,5km South-east of Siegerswoude in the Friesland Province of The Netherlands. His wingman, 1st Lt Mark T. Wilson Jr had to do the same and they both evaded with the help of Dutch citizens and underground members from the region of Hoornsterwaag (Andries Breitsma, Tetje Breitsma), Hemrik, Garijp (Jan Minkes, Tjalling E. Nijboer, Anne de Vries, Piet Dijkstra, Geu Luik and others.) Oldfield and Wilson were liberated on 14 April 1945 when they were taken to rejoin troops of the Royal Canadian Dragoons at Olderkoop, 5km SW of Hoornsterzwaag. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2960.
Charles Oldfield stayed in the Air Force after the war. He served in Korea and was a 1952 bachelor of Nuclear Engineering at the North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He was in the Biophysics Division, Research Directorate, Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1955 to 1957 and participated in flight tests in T-33 jet trainers for Operation TEAPOT in 1955. He served also in Viêt-Nam and left the service with the rank of Colonel.
Awards: LOM, DFC, AM (OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star), American Campaign, National Defense, AF Commendation.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 84th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17071974 and O-812524
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
Missions
- Date: 25 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
- Known as: Siegerswoude
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Minnesota, United States | 7 June 1920 | |
Enlisted |
Rock Island, IL | 25 April 1942 | Rock Island, Illinois |
Other Evaded |
Siegerswoude | 25 February 1945 - 14 April 1945 | Short on fuel, had to force-land his P-51 near Siegerswoude, Friesland, The Netherlands. Liberated by Canadian troops in Oldeberkoop, Frisland, 14 April 1945. |
Died |
California, United States | 6 August 1996 | |
Buried |
Golden Gate National Cemetery San Bruno, San Mateo County, CA | 9 August 1996 | Golden Gate National Cemetery San Bruno, San Mateo County, California |
Revisions
NARA files verified DFC and AM w/1 OLC. His AFCM was awarded in 1959 and he earned at least one bronze star on the EAME Campaign Medal. His personnel file would confirm more decorations and awards for later service. He was a Major in 1959.
My great uncle, Andries Breitsma helped Charles and his co-pilot Mark T Wilson escape the Germans after their plane crashed in the north of the Netherlands. The official report mentions an unnamed farmer with a 21 year old girl (Tetje Breitsma), a 16 year old boy (Jouke Breitsma), and twin girls (Akke and Iepie). If one reads Charles memoir this is also consistent. Andries Breitsma ended up imprisoned by the Germans until that part of the country was liberated in April. My father or any of the direct descendants of Andries may have more details.
NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 12703
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2960
SSDI
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12703 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list