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name
DOLAN, Charles Jr - Date of
birth
unknown -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-825804 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 October 1944 - Place of
death
3 kilometers west of Middelburg, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 3 | 32 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles Dolan (father)
Margaret M. Dolan (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50596 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Flak Magnet
Destination: Leverkusen, Germany
MACR: 9654
More information
2nd Lt Charles Dolan, jr, attended Boston College.At 13:30 Hours Flak batteries shot off the tail of the B-24 (B-24J 42-50596, "Flak Magnet") which crashed near the caseates at Buttinge, 3 kilometers West of Middelburg on Walcheren Island, Holland. On return, the formation broke it's integrity near Brussels where a cloud layer, building up to 28,000 feet was encountered. Byron Davis' body was found in the water near Buttinge. The Island of Walcheren was inundated at that time, and only the higher lying parts (mostly centers) of the Villages were still dry. The Liberator must have crashed on inundated territory, which may explain the loss of bodies.
Analyzing the burial details in the casualty report, they concluded that Dolan, Davis and Fuxa were recovered and buried in Grijpskerke and Middelburg in October, December and April. It had been recorded that Davis' body was floating in the water and it is likely to accept that this was also valid for Dolan and Fuxa.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, www.greenharbor.com, MACR 9654, www.wwiimemorial.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Michel Beckers/Willem Maljers