Charles Edgar Duncan was born in Erwin, Tennessee too James Loss Duncan and Creola Bean.
Sergeant Charles E. Duncan, US Army Air Forces, was assigned to the 532nd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, flying a B-17 out of Ridgewell, England, during the air offensive in Europe.
Sgt Duncan was a Waist Gunner on B-17 AC #42-3562. He was killed in action on the 20th of February 1944, on a mission to Leipzig and Oschersleben, Germany. He is interred at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg, plot B, row 10, grave 58.
Aircraft B-17G with serial number 42-3562 departed from Ridgewell, England on a day bombing mission to Oschersleben in Germany. The aircraft was hit by flak and enemy fighters and left the formation over the target. Sgt Duncan didn’t bail out. He was struck in the chest by enemy cannon fire and was last seen by the radio operator, slumped over his gun, bleeding profusely from chest and mouth. The radio operator believed that Sgt Duncan was dead and did not attempt to remove him from the aircraft. The remains of Sgt Duncan were found in the crashed airplane.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Kirch J. Cogswell
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt William Borrego
Navigator, 2nd Lt William R. Meehan
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Lorenzo Espinosa
Engineer-Top Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Raymond J. Leccese
Radio Operator-Gunner, S/Sgt Frank O. Urban
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Joseph L. Durnin
Right Waist Gunner, Sgt Charles E. Duncan
Left Waist Gunner, Sgt John V. Kangas
Tail Gunner, Sgt Wilfred L. Miller
The photo of Sgt Duncan was taken on 16 September 1943. Duncan was born in 1917 per his enlistment papers out of Atlanta, GA.
The Johnson City Press, 5 March 1944
Sgt. Charles Edgar Duncan, waist gunner on a Flying Fortress, is reported missing in action over Germany, his mother, Mrs. Creola B. Duncan, route 1, was informed by the War Department. He was stationed at a bomber base in England. A former employe of a Johnson City dairy company, Sergeant Duncan is a graduate of Unicoi County High School here. He entered the Army November 13, 1942, and was assigned to overseas duty in December, 1943. He received his gunner’s wings at Rapid City, S.D. A brother, James, lives at 447 Clinchfield avenue, Erwin.
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 25 April 1917
- Date of death: 20 February 1944
- County: Unicoi
- Hometown: Erwin
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 532nd Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Top Panel
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