Charles William Bley (1918 - 1944)

Born 21 Nov 1918 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

Died 2 Mar 1944 at age 25 in Natrona, Wyoming, United States

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Biography

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

Charles Bley was awarded the Air Medal.

Charles Bley was awarded the Purple Heart.

Captain Charles Bley served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 26 Jan 1942
Unit(s): 515th Bombardment Squadron, 376th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 2 Mar 1944

Charles was born 21 November 1918 in Oakland, California.^[1] He was the son of Charles N. Bley and Emily Ivy Galway.

Charles was the pilot of the B-24 Liberator bomber, Little Isadore, #42-40203, participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

He passed away 2 March 1944 in an aircraft training accident approximately 20 miles from the base on Casper, Wyoming.^[2]

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #3521035 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  Memorial page for Capt Charles William Bley (1918-2 Mar 1944), citing San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA (plot: Section OS Row 94 Site 10); Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "California Birth Index, 1905-1995"
   citing Alameda, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento
   FamilySearch Record: V25D-GWT (accessed 13 November 2023)
   Charles W Bley born on 21 Nov 1918, son of Galway, in Alameda, California, United States.
2. ↑ Death: "Wyoming, U.S., Death Records, 1909-1971"
   Wyoming State Archives; Cheyenne, WY, USA; Wyoming State Death Records; Certificate Number: 517
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61831 #180618138 (accessed 13 November 2023)
   Charles William Bley death 2 Mar 1944 (born 21 Nov 1918), son of Charles N. Bley, in Rural, Natrona.

• 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 71; Digital film/folder number: 004964274; FHL microfilm: 1820092; Image number: 650; Sheet number: 13; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01879-2
  FamilySearch Record: MH38-1F7 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR67-FRK
  Charles W Bley (1), single son, in household of Charles M Bley (33) in Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States. Born in California.
• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 27; Digital film/folder number: 004950091; FHL microfilm: 2339847; Image number: 74; Sheet number: 6; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03988-7
  FamilySearch Record: XCXV-5Z1 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R4H-38W
  Chas Wm B*y (11), single son, in household of Chas N B*y (44) in Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States. Born in California.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Digital film/folder number: 005455017; Image number: 437; Sheet number: 63; Sheet letter: A
  FamilySearch Record: K9QW-D2C (accessed 13 November 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9MT-7WY9
  Charles W Bley (21), single son, in household of Ruth V Bley (17) in Oakland Judicial Township, Alameda, California, United States. Born in California.
• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 165
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #17385027 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  Name: Charles William Bley; Gender: Male; Race: White; Age: 21; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 21 Nov 1918; Birth Place: Oakland, California, USA; Residence Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California, USA; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California, USA; Employer: Harry Jham; Height: 6; Weight: 160; Complexion: Light; Hair Color: Blonde; Eye Color: Blue; Next of Kin: Charles Nicholas Bley;
  Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
  Charles William Bley 22 Self (Head)
  Charles Nicholas Bley Father.
• Military: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
  citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland
  FamilySearch Record: K8GX-K2G (accessed 13 November 2023)
  Name: Charles W Bley; Marital Status: Single, without dependents; Race: White; Military Service Date: 26 Jan 1942; Military Service Place: Stockton Fld, California, United States; Birth Date: 1918; Birth Place: CALIFORNIA; Arc Identifier: 1263923; Branch Alpha Orig: BI; Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA; Branch Code Orig: 00; Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses; Civil Occupation Orig: 002; Component Orig: 6; Education: 3 years of college; Education Orig: 7; Enlistment Day: 26; Enlistment Month: Jan; Enlistment Month Orig: 01; Enlistment Place: STOCKTON FLD CALIFORNIA; Enlistment Place Orig: 9063; Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law; Enlistment Term Orig: 5; Enlistment Year: 1942; Enlistment Year Orig: 42; Event Type: Military Service; Grade Alpha Orig: PVT; Grade Code: Private; Grade Code Orig: 8; Major Force Of Assign: 7; Military Occupation: 7215; Reel Box Card: 03043.26; Serial Number: 19060817; Source: Civil Life; Source Orig: 0.
• Berkeley War Flier To Address Post: "Newspapers.com"
  Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Mon, Oct 25, 1943, page 8
  Newspapers Clip: 135163964 (accessed 13 November 2023)
• Bay Area Men Decorated for Part in Rumania Oil Field Raid: "Newspapers.com"
  Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Wed, Nov 17, 1943, page 14
  Newspapers Clip: 90609097 (accessed 13 November 2023)
• BERKELEY AIR HERO KILLED IN CRASH OF ARMY BOMBER NEAR CASPER, WYO.: "Newspapers.com"
  Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Sun, Mar 5, 1944, page 2
  Newspapers Clip: 135155198 (accessed 13 November 2023)
• Military: "U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962"
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2590 #2086169 (accessed 13 November 2023)
  Name: Charles William Bley; Death Date: 2 Mar 1944; Cemetery: San Francisco National Cemetery; Burial Location: San Francisco, California.