World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Charles H. Gilbert
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 8 JUNE 1942 AT PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. DEPLOYED FROM SIOUX CITY ARMY AIR BASE, IOWA TO THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 8TH AIR FORCE, 379TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 527TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE STATION 117 AT KIMBOLTON AIRFIELD IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY, ENGLAND. ON 29 JULY 1943, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE TOP TURRET STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-17F FLYING FORTRESS (SERIAL # 42-5810) ON A MISSION TO BOMBARD THE GERMAN U-BOAT SUBMARINE PENS AT KIEL, GERMANY. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS ATTACKED BY THREE LUFTWAFFE FIGHTER PLANES. HE WAS KILLED WHEN HE BAILED OUT OVER THE NORTH SEA NEAR THE FRISIAN ISLANDS JUST OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE NETHERLANDS ZUIDER ZEE INLET.