En route to Rangoon, Burma on a combat mission, the formation of B-24s came under attack by enemy fighters. In one of the passes, a zero made an attack from about three o'clock. As the fighter went through the formation, it struck Vickers' bomber at about the waist position, cutting the fuselage in half and tearing off the zero's tail. Both planes spun out of control and crashed.
SSgt. Charles E. "Shorty" Vickers, ASN 34198133
Gunner - Vaughn Crew
10th Air Force / 7th Bombardment Group / 492nd Bombardment Squadron
Entered Service: 9 Feb 42 Killed In Action: 26 Oct 43
Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
(Images provided by Kristi Goetsch & Karen Beenken)
Front, L-R: TSgt. Patrick G. O'Hare (RO), Nathan L. Wall, E. Lewis
Back, L-R: SSgt. Charles E. "Shorty" Vickers, Harry N. Chenowith
The mid-air collision that doomed the crew of the ship.
Painted from memory by SSgt. Thomas L. Grady. (click on image to see larger size.)
7th BG Personnel
492nd BS Personnel
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