Charles Haddon Henley Jr. was born in 1921 in Harriman, TN to Charles Haddon Henley Sr. and Alice Elizabeth Ann Renfro. His siblings were Cecil M. Henley (also died in WWII and honored on the memorial) , James L. Henley, Samuel J. Henley, Luther L. Henley, Thomas R. Henley, Alice Henley, Jack Henley and Luke Henley. He married Miss Ruby Marie Bailes in 1941. Charles Henley Jr. enlisted on April 1, 1942, in Knoxville and was a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1330th Air Force Base Unit. He was killed February 2, 1945, when his B-24 crashed in the mountains between India and China.
From Pacific Wrecks
B-24D-20-CO AC#41-24183
14th AF
1330th Base Unit
Crew members
Pilot 1st Lt. Delton D. Shilling, O-670447 MIA KIA Tulsa OK
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Charles H. Henley, O-670905 MIA KIA Knoxville, TN
Radio 1st Lt Charles O. Hedges, 17159249 MIA KIA Stockton, MS
Engineer TSgt William M. Costell, 6978434 MIA KIA Wildwood Villa, NJ
MIA February 1, 1945
MACR 12030
Mission History
Took off from Hsinching Airfield in China on a flight bound for Jorhat Airfield in India. This bomber was on course ABLE last position report was being over Likiang, China, the following bearings were shot from Kharagpurat 1938z, 232 deg.class 2 at 1946z, 234 deg. class 1 at 2013z,235 deg, class 1 piaradoba on 183 at 2034z,270 deg, class 2 aircraft didn’t acknowledge these bearings. Airbase at Likiang received distress call at 1930z last contact at 2034z somewhere southwest of Fort Hertz valley.
Search
Afterwards, search & rescue aircraft based at Mohanbari, India searched for this aircraft, unsuccessfully.
Memorials
The crew was officially declared dead on February 3, 1946. Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, 18 May 1942
Charles H. Henley Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Henley of 2020 Woodbine Avenue will report soon for duty as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Force. He will report at Fort Oglethorpe and from there will be sent to Kelly Field, Texas, for training, which will lead to his commission as an officer, according to his mother. He is a graduate of Knoxville High School and has been employed as a foreman for Southern Railway. He is the great-great-great-grandson of Col. David Henley, who was appointed war agent for Tennessee by President Washington.
Photo courtesy: https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 10 June 1921
- Date of death: 2 February 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Harriman
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 1330th Air Force Base Unit
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Charles H. Henley Jr.
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