1930 - US Census - Sayre, Beckham, Oklahoma

Household ......Role ..Sex .....Age Birthplace

J Clark Woods .Head Male ....29 ..Kansas

Ethel B Woods .Wife .Female 29 ..Kansas

Charles Woods Son ..Male ....5 ....Oklahoma

James Woods ..Son ..Male ....0 ....Oklahoma

On August 14, 1935 the 10 year-old Charles was playing with some of his friends at a camp east of Sayre. Unknown to the parents one of the friends took his parent's gun. While the boys were playing around the gun went off killing Danny Rogers.

1940 - US Census - Sayre, Beckham, Oklahoma

Household ......Role ..Sex .....Age Birthplace

J Clark Woods .Head Male ....39 ..Kansas

Ethel Woods ....Wife .Female 39 ..Kansas

Charlie Woods Son ...Male ....15 ..Oklahoma

Jimmie Woods Son ...Male ....10 ..Oklahoma

The Sayre Daily Headlight-Journal, Sayre, Oklahoma · Monday, March 29, 1943 pg 1, col. 6

George McClintic and Charles Woods left Friday to enter the cadet army air corps training at Kelley field, San Antonia, Texas. George McClintic is the son of Mrs. G. V. McClintie and Charles Woods is the son of Mr and Mrs J. C. Woods. Both boys volunteered in January and made high ratings in their tests.

The Sayre Sun, Sayre, Oklahoma · Thursday, May 06, 1943 pg 1

ON THE HOUSE

. . .

Charles Woods and George McClintic write they both are at Randolph Field but that doesn't mean they get to see one another with much more regularity than if they were located at separate fields.

The Sayre Sun, Sayre, Oklahoma · Thursday, 06 April 1944 pg 6

Sun Letter to Boys in the Service

. . .

Mose and Ethel Woods are now sending their son, Cpl. Charles, letters to a New York APO address. He is a radio-waist gunner on a B-24. Incidently(sic) Ethel received two pairs of beautiful silk hose Wednesday with a foreign label on the package.

. . .

The Sayre Sun, Thursday, June 1, 1944 pg 1

Sgt. Charles Woods

Sees First Action

Over Toulon France

FIFTEENTH ARMY AIR FORCE -- Sgt. Charles L. Woods, 19-year-old waist gunner on a B-17, of 412 North Fourth street, Sayre, Okla., has recently been promoted from corporal to the grade of sergeant.

Sgt. Woods joined the army on March 27, 1943 and was awarded his gunners wings on October 10, 1943 at Harlingen, Texas. He flew his first combat mission on April 29, 1944 over Toulon, France.

He graduated from the Sayre highschool in 1943. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods, live at the Sayre address.

The Sayre Sun, Thursday, July 20, 1944 pg 1

TWO GUNNERS

ARE MISSING

Woods, Bonifield

Fail to Return

S-Sgt. Charles Lee Woods, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods and S-Sgt. Jack Bonifield, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bonifield of Delhi have both been reported missing in action during the past week according to telegrams received from the war department by their parents.

Woods, a gunner on a Flying Fortress, based in Italy, was reported missing over Germany on July 7 according to the telegram received by his parents early Wednesday and Bonifield, a gunner on a B-24 Liberator also based in Italy, his parents were informed Saturday.

Woods was sent over seas in April and was believed to have taken part in more than 20 missions. Bonifield had completed his forty-fourth mission and had been scheduled for a furlough when he was put back into active service. According to a letter received by his folks and written just before he was reported missing, he had completed additional missions.

Woods, 19, graduated from Sayre highschool in 1943 and entered the service in March that of taht year. He received training at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Shepherd Field in Wichita Falls, Tex., and received his gunner's wings at Harlingen Field, Tex. He was sent to the air corp replacement center at Salt Lake City and later to March Field in California where he received his overseas training.

Bonifield, 21, graduated from Delhi highschool and entered the air corp on December 4, 1942. He completed courses in radio operation and gunnery at Scott Field, Ill., and Laredo, Tex.

The Sayre Sun, Thursday, August 10, 1944 pg 1

Buddy of Missing Aerial Gunner

Reports News of Plane Crash

In reply to an inquiry by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods concerning information about their son S-Sgt. Charles, who was reported missing in action over Germany on July 7, while on a mission as a waist gunner of a B-17, a short note has been received from Lt. Virgil Breakey of Italy a former member of the crew, who had been transferred to another group, giving them what information he was permitted to concerning their son's whereabouts. The note, written to the lieutenant's mother and forwarded to the Woods, said:

"I am sorry to say that I cannot give out any information about the crew. I do say that I saw the ship go down and crash, as I was on that mission, but I was quite a bit behind them, and did not see all that did happen, but from what I did see, I can say that I think Mrs. Woods can be almost assured that Chuck (Charley) is alive. I think, since he was a waist gunner, that he had every chance in the world of getting out of the ship before it hit the ground. You can write her, telling her this, and too, I wrote the second poem that is enclosed, so send it to her too, and I think it will help lessen her fears. I am sorry, but regulations forbit(sic) me from saying much else."

The Sayre Sun, Sayre, Oklahoma · Thursday, 18 January 1945 pg 4

Letter to the Boys In the Service

. . .

Mose and Ethel Woods received word this week that their son S-Sgt. Charley has been awarded the air medal and one oak leaf cluster for outstanding service. Charley has been missing since July 7 when the B-17 on which he was a waist gunner went down over Blechhammer, Germany.

. . .

The Sayre Daily Headlight-Journal, Sayre, Oklahoma · Tuesday, 13 February 1945 pg 1

Sayre Men Are

Honored In Altus

Ceremony

Second Lieutenant Cloud Hodgeson and S-Sgt. Charles Lee Woods, Sayre, men were honored in an Altus ceremony, Saturday, Feb. 10.

War department Awards for meritoricus actions were presented at the Altus Army air field Saturday afternoon to relatives of AAF officers and men. Presentation of awards was made by Lt. Col. Milan G. Florence, director of training and operations, at a special retreat ceremony when the entire aviation cadet detachment pasesd(sic) in review in silent tribute to the decorated men.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods and Mrs. Mary Hodgeson were taken to Altus in a staff car.

. . .

The Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster was given to Mrs. Ethel B. Woods for her son. S.

Sgt. Charles Lee Woods, member lof the 15th air force now listed as missing in action.

S-Sgt. Woods entered the army March 1943 at San Antonio, Texas. He received his gunners wings at Harlingen, Texas, and advanced training in Salt Lak City and March Field, Calif., Sgt. Woods went overseas March 1944 and was reported missing in action July 7, 1944.

The Sayre Sun, Thursday, July 20, 1950 pg 1

Last Rites For

Charles L. Woods

Are Held Monday

Private last rites for S-Sgt. Charles L. Woods were held at 10 a. m. Monday at the Scroggins Funeral home with the Rev. E. T. Cooprider and the Rev. J. T. Means, officiating.

Woods was born March 1, 1925 at Sayre and lived here all his life. He attended the Sayre schools and graduated there in the class of 1943.

He was active in school activities and played football here on the teams of 1942-43. He enlisted in the army air force on March 26, 1943 and received his training at Randolph Field, Texas. He was a gunner on a B-17 bomber.

In April 1944 he flew with his squadron overseas and was attached to the 15th air force stationed in Italy. His plane was shot down over Blockenheimer,(sic) Germany, July 7, 1944.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Woods; one brother, Jimmie, Sayre; grandparents, Mrs. Mary Athons, of Carmen, Oklahoma, Mrs. Nora Woods, Sayre. He was preceded in death by one brother in 1927.

Burial was in the Sayre-Doxey cemetery with the Scroggins Funeral home in charge of arrangements. The Sayre American Legion was in charge of graveside services.