My cousin, T./Sgt. Charles J. Simco, Engineer Top Turret Gunner, bailed out of his F17 Bomber on Dec 5, 1943 over Bayeux, France, on his 10th mission. He broke his leg on landing. (Source: AFPPA-11 Individual Casualty Questionnaire.) His parents received telegrams that he was MIA and then that he was a POW.

While Charles was still a POW, his brother Pvt. Leonard J. Simco was KIA on June 11, 1944 in Normandy, France.

I found the following additional information on Charles in the Forum on Fold3, from :

B-17F #42-30837 "Ole Bassar" from 388th BG / 561st BS.

Crew were the following:

2nd Lt Paul A. TODD (P)

2nd Lt Clarence D. WILLINGHAM (CP)

2nd Lt Roland D. BROWMAN (N)

2nd Lt Raymond A. LULL (B)

T/Sgt Charles J. SIMCO (E)

T/Sgt Arthur K. STILES (RO)

S/Sgt William L. MORRIS (BTG)

S/Sgt Herbert M. SCHUMAN (LWG)

S/Sgt Arthur E. MATHIEU (RWG)

S/Sgt James R. DOUGLAS (TG)

S/Sgt William E. DAVIS (PH)

MACR #5022 & 7325 : T/O Knettishall, assigned target Bordeaux-Merignac A/D France. Shot down over Normandy, France. With intercom shot out the pilot signaled to the RO that all should abandon aircraft and bail out. Only three managed to clear aircraft before it crashed. 8 KIA 2 POW 1 EVD.

P - Todd POW

TT/ Eng. Simco POW

CP - Willingham Evaded

All others - KIA

Charles Simco (1919)