World War II Honoree

Charles James Harder

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 5 OCTOBER 1942 AT RACINE, WISCONSIN. ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, 13TH AIR FORCE, 307TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 370TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT MOKERANG AIRFIELD, ON LOS NEGROS IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS TO THE NORTH OF NEW GUINEA. ON 15 JULY 1944, HE FLEW AS AN ASSISTANT NAVIGATOR ABOARD B-24J LIBERATOR (TAIL # 44-40555) ON A COMBAT MISSION TO BOMB THE JAPANESE RADIO STATION AND BARRACKS AREA ON YAP IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. THE BOMB GROUP FORMATION OF 22 LIBERATOR AIRCRAFT WAS ATTACKED BY A SQUAD OF 15 JAPANESE 'ZEKE' FIGHTER PLANES DURING THE BOMB RUN AND WHILE DEPARTING THE YAP ISLAND TARGET AREA. APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES SOUTH OF YAP ISLAND, HIS AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER B-24J LIBERATOR (TAIL # 42-73119) RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT AND AIRCREWS.