Charles John Strong was born 27 April 1920, the son of Noah Bartholomew Settles Strong and Clara Elizabeth Brooks. He was married to Pauline Ruth Strong. He entered the service on 7 October 1943 and was trained in the Air Corps at Alexandra La., with the Eight Air Force. He died 8 April 1945. Nose Gunner, B-17G, Aircraft 43-37942, 486th Bomber Group, 832nd Bomber Squadron.
He was a gunner on a B-17. He was listed as missing as of April 25, 1944, on a flight over Hoff, Germany, and was officially reported as killed on that date. Riddled by flak, Sergeant Strong’s plane exploded in the air, and while seven of the crew were thrown clear, Strong and the pilot went down with the bomber. It was his twenty-first mission and he had expected to be returned to the States after completing 35. While on his first mission, soon after arriving in England December 23, 1944, he had been wounded and received the Purple Heart. Sergeant Strong’s wife, Mrs. Pauline Strong, has received this medal together with the Air Medal and Presidential Unit Citation, which the young airman had been awarded.
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt Billy J. Wood
Co-Pilot, F/O Walter A. Doerschlag
Navigator, 2nd Lt Richard Witt
Radio Operator, S/Sgt William Roscoe
Engineer, T/Sgt William W. Martin
Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Harry T. Parmley
Tail Gunner, Sgt Jack W. Marlar
Nose Bunner, Sgt Charles J. Strong
Waist Gunner, Sgt Horace W. Houd
Buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennessee.
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 27 April 1920
- Date of death: 8 April 1945
- County: Sullivan
- Hometown: Kingsport
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 832nd Bomber Squadron, 486th Bomber Group
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation
- Burial/Memorial Location: Oak Hill Cemetery, Kingsport, Sullivan County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Middle Panel
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