Charles Pinning was married and working as an electrician when he enlisted as a Private for the duration of the war plus 6 months on March 18, 1942. On the On October 9, 1943, at the United States Air Force base in Bassingbourn, England, the crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber named "Chief Sly III" prepared for the coming mission into German occupied territory. The mission was a diversionary flight to Neubrandenburg, Germany. The crew was to draw enemy fighters away from the main attack force. Despite the heavy armament of the B-17 Flying Fortress, the "Chief Sly III" was one of the first planes to fall out of formation to Luftwaffe fighters. The crew of 10, including the pilot, 1st Lt. Charles B. "Bernie" Pinning, plunged into the North Sea where all aboard perished from exposure in the cold waters while attempting to swim to the Danish coast. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
In 1949, Lieutenant Pinning's body was returned for reburial.
1943 Photo: Charles is in bottom row, second from right.
In 1949, Lieutenant Pinning's body was returned for reburial.
1943 Photo: Charles is in bottom row, second from right.
Charles Pinning was married and working as an electrician when he enlisted as a Private for the duration of the war plus 6 months on March 18, 1942. On the On October 9, 1943, at the United States Air Force base in Bassingbourn, England, the crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber named "Chief Sly III" prepared for the coming mission into German occupied territory. The mission was a diversionary flight to Neubrandenburg, Germany. The crew was to draw enemy fighters away from the main attack force. Despite the heavy armament of the B-17 Flying Fortress, the "Chief Sly III" was one of the first planes to fall out of formation to Luftwaffe fighters. The crew of 10, including the pilot, 1st Lt. Charles B. "Bernie" Pinning, plunged into the North Sea where all aboard perished from exposure in the cold waters while attempting to swim to the Danish coast. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
In 1949, Lieutenant Pinning's body was returned for reburial.
1943 Photo: Charles is in bottom row, second from right.
In 1949, Lieutenant Pinning's body was returned for reburial.
1943 Photo: Charles is in bottom row, second from right.
Inscription
MARYLAND
1ST LT
522 A AF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
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