World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Charles F. Balik
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Wampum, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Charles F. Balik
SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE. FLEW IN 24 COMBAT MISSIONS ON A B-17 BOMBER. STATIONED IN POLEBROOK ENGLAND. HAD CREW OF 9 PEOPLE, SHOT DOWN ON THE 24TH MISSION. PLANE CRASHED IN THE NETHERLANDS; HAD TO BAIL OUT AND 1 CREW MEMBER DIED IN ACTION. SHOT DOWN JANUARY 22, 1943. CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. POW. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL WITH AN OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.