Chuck Childs
Chuck Childs, 2007
- Branch of Service: Air Force, Lt Col
- 2nd Bombardment Group, 96th Squadron
- Military Service: Enlisted, 1941 - 1961
Listen to the following sections by scrolling forward to the timecode.
0:00 - Joined National Guard; cadet school; flight instructor
3:11 - Sent overseas
7:30 - Combat flying; quadrant lead; flak; missions; two Distinguished Flying Crosses
14:20 - Lost engineer and bombardier during the mission; copilot, radio operator, and navigator were injured
17:30 - Though missions and war stats (B-17)
At age 24 - flying his B-17 dubbed "Gravel Gertie" - Chuck Childs was "the old man" to the 18- to 23-year-olds he served with in Italy.
Childs keeps memorabilia in frames on the wall of his Rapid City home. At the center of this display is a picture of a B-17 cockpit.
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