World War II Honoree

Charles Haltom

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bryan, Texas

Honored By

Charles Haltom

Relationship

Self

ENTERED SERVICE AS FLYING CADET IN JULY 1941. COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT FEBRUARY 1942. QUALIFIED AS FIRST PILOT IN B-17 AND B-24 AIRCRAFT. ORDERED OVERSEAS AS SQUADRON COMMANDER, 726TH BOMB SQUADRON (B-24 AIRCRAFT, 451ST BOMB GROUP HEAVY, NOVEMBER 1943 TO ITALY. ON 38TH MISSION TO BUDAPEST JULY 14, 1944 WAS HIT BY FLAK, LOST 2 ENGINES. AFTER LEAVING FORMATION HIT BY ME 109'S DAMAGING FLIGHT CONTROLS. MADE IT AS FAR AS CROATIA BEFORE HAVING TO BAIL OUT DUE TO MORE ENEMY FIGHTERS COMING IN. ALL 12 CREW MEMBERS BAILED OUT SUCCESSFULLY, BUT 4 ENLISTED MEN AND MYSELF WERE CAPTURED AND SENT TO POW CAMPS IN GERMANY. DECORATIONS: SILVER STAR, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, POW MEDAL AND THE AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH 1 CLUSTER AND THE USUAL CAMPAIGN MEDALS AND BATTLE STARS, THEATRE RIBBONS AND MEDALS. INCLUDING VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION (GERMANY).