Charles Thomas Bridges (1917 - 1989)

Born 27 May 1917 in Anderson, Madison, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Charles Bridges was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Charles Bridges was awarded the Air Medal.

Charles Bridges was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal (United States).

Charles Bridges was awarded the Purple Heart.

Tech Sergeant Charles Bridges served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 24 Mar 1943
Unit(s): 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 28 Apr 1945

Tech Sergeant Charles Bridges was captured by Romanians after the B-24 bomber, Forky II, that he was a gunner on crash near Polesti, Romania during World War II.

Charles was born 27 May 1917 in Anderson, Indiana.

Charles was a Waist Gunner aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber, Forky II (42-40182), participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. The bomber was attacked by enemy fighters after reaching the target, causing it to explode. Charles was the only survivor of the explosion. He was captured and imprisoned in Romania. He was liberated in August 1944 and flown to Italy.

He passed away in 1989.

Find A Grave: Memorial #92813285

Sources

• National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Indiana, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 87. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Ancestry Record 2238 #40549514
• Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ancestry Record 2441 #9977416
• Missing In Action, The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, 26 Aug 1943, Thu • Page 27
• 3 Airmen Reported Missing After Bomber Missions, The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, 31 Aug 1943, Tue • Page 12
• THIRTY-EIGHT MEN RECEIVE MEDALS, Linton Daily Citizen, Linton, Indiana, 17 Nov 1943, Wed • Page 1
• Triple Award Made to Anderson Pilot Now Captive in Romania, The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, 18 Dec 1943, Sat • Page 12
• Scipio Man is Prisoner of War, The Tribune, Seymour, Indiana, 23 Oct 1943, Sat • Page 1
• Forts Evacuate Allied Airmen from Romania, Palladium-Item, Richmond, Indiana, 02 Sep 1944, Sat • Page 2
• Bridges Recalls Slap by Dictator, Princess Friendship After Ploesti, Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, 10 Sep 1962, Mon • Page 1
  • [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82629108/bridges-recollection-of-ploesti/ Bridges Recalls Slap and Long Friendship,