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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Charles F. Piel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Berwyn, Illinois

Honored By

Jerry Penry

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A STUDENT PILOT OF A B-24 ‘LIBERATOR’ BOMBER, WHO WAS KILLED APRIL 29, 1944 ALONG WITH NINE OTHER CREWMAN ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE CREW WAS FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER, POOR VISIBILITY AND FOG CONDITIONS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE RISING TERRAIN OF A CANYON WALL. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL AIR STATION CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND WAS DESTINED FOR DENVER, COLORADO WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED NEAR MERNA, NEBRASKA.