World War II Honoree

Charles W. B. Cranmer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Beach Haven, New Jersey

Honored By

Alexander Jacobs, Jr.

Relationship

Veteran

SERVED WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 306TH BOMB GROUP, 369TH BOMB SQUADRON ('REICH WRECKERS') IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PILOT OF THE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER, 'SONS OF FURY', WHICH WAS DAMAGED BY GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE WHILE ON A MISSION TO BOMB GERMAN SUBMARINE BASE AT ST. NAZAIRE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 3, 1943. WHILE RETURNING TO BASE IN ENGLAND, HE HAD TO DITCH IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL WHERE HIS AIRCRAFT WAS STRAFED BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.