World War II Honoree

Charles W. 'Charlie' Erickson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. TRAINED AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER AND IN AERIAL GUNNERY. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER AND GUNNER ON B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT DURING THE WAR. AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER-GUNNER, CHECKED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT, MADE REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN FLIGHT TO CORRECT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, ASSISTED IN THE OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS, POWER PLANT COMPONENTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER ATTACK. FLEW 32 COMBAT MISSIONS AGAINST TARGETS IN ITALY, FRANCE, GERMANY AND THE BALKANS. HIS UNIT SERVED PRIMARILY AS A DAYLIGHT STRATEGIC BOMBING ORGANIZATION, ATTACKING SUCH TARGETS AS RAILWAY FACTORIES AND MARSHALLING YARDS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY, ENEMY AIRFIELDS, AND THE GERMAN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM, AIRCRAFT FACTORIES AND OIL REFINERIES AND STORAGE FACILITIES. THE SQUADRON ALSO PERFORMED TACTICAL SUPPORT MISSIONS, TO ASSIST GROUND FORCES IN THEIR COMBAT OPERATIONS. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN OVER GERMANY ON JULY 18, 1944. HE WAS CAPTURED AND TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) BY THE GERMANS. HE WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF HIS CREW. HELD AS A POW FOR NEARLY A YEAR BEFORE HE WAS LIBERATED BY BRITISH FORCES. AWARDED HIS SILVER AIRCREW MEMBER BADGE (WINGS) AND AERIAL GUNNER BADGE (WINGS), THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AIR MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.