World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Charles A. Gardner
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
California
Honored By
A Grateful American
SERGEANT, PHOTOGRAPHER, PASSENGER ABOARD BRYANT PAULSEN'S PLANE. B-24 LIBERATOR 'HOT GARTERS', 321ST SQUADRON (BOMBS AWAY), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, SERVING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. APRIL 10, 1944, THE PLANE WAS ON A BOMBING RUN AGAINST HANSA BAY WHEN IT WAS HIT WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CRASHED NEAR NUBIA. SOME OF THE MEN WERE ABLE TO BAIL OUT, BUT THEY WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN. THE CREW WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED DEAD THE DAY OF THE MISSION. MISSING AIR CREW REPORT 4505. AWARDED: AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART.