Charles Winston Runnion Died non Battle
The Nebraska State Journal, 7 May 1944
McCook, Neb. A B-24 Liberator bomber from the McCook army air base crashed and burned 13 miles northeast of Morrill, Nebraska, Friday, killing five men, seriously injuring another and causing minor bruises to two other members of the crew, Lt Col Stanley M. Persons, commander of the McCook base, said Saturday.
Listed as dead were: 2nd Lt O. A. Jones, Mount Sterling, Ill., 2nd Lt Kenneth L. Hutzel, Sanborn, N.Y., Sgt Charles W. Runnion, Akron, O., S/Sgt Robert D. Harris, Dravosburg, Pa., and Sgt Billy D. Queen, St. Joseph, Mo.
Flight Officer Walter L. Jensen, son of Louis Jense, St. Paul, Minn., was seriously injured and is in Methodist hospital at Scottsbluff, Neb., Col Persons said.
Names of those sustaining minor injuries were not disclosed.
The Public relations officer at the Scottsbluff army air base at Scottsbluff said the plane broke in two after striking the ground and the fore part burst into flames, cremating the pilot and co-pilot at their posts. The fire burned grassland for half a mile around the wrecked plane.
He is buried at Benton Station Cemetery, Benton Station, Polk County, Tennessee.
Photo submitted by Marian Presswood
“The Jones’ Boys.” Front l-r: Sgt. Ted Mezyunski, Sgt. Wm. F. Kilkeary, Sgt. Robert D. Harris, Sgt. Billy D. Queen and Sgt. John Riehl.
Back l-r: Lt. Wm. N. Salomon, Lt. Kenneth L. Hutzel, Lt. O. A. Jones, F/O Walter L. Jensen and Sgt. Charles Winston Runnion.
Sgt. Mezyunski and Sgt. Riehl were not on the plane at the time of the crash.
Photo courtesy Bill Kilkeary shared with PCHGS by Jerry Penry.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 11 May 1924
- Date of death: 5 May 1944
- County: Polk
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 493rd Bomber Group, 862nd Squadron
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Benton Station Cemetery, Benton Station, Polk County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Charles W. Runnion
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