Charles A McKinney

321st Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Squadron, B-25 Mitchells.  The 321st Bomb Group ...who flew the "now famous" HOP across the Atlantic with C.O. Gen.  Bob Knapp leading the formation. The 321st, commanded by (then) Col. Knapp was the first group to fly from the United States to an overseas base in a single mass without loss.

http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/spinglercrews.html  Lt McKinney was the Pilot of the B-25 #41-29769 in the formation led by General Bob Knapp, Crossing the Atlantic, the Southern Route.

Lt Charles McKinney was shot-down on his 4th Combat Mission out of North Africa.  Lt McKinney was awarded a DFC;  The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the U S armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an Aerial Flight.

Wednesday, 31 March 1943

448th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 16/mission 15) Group Mission # 15: Mission 11 (15):  At 12:45 15 planes off to bomb on sea sweep, 14 dropped 84 x 500 bombs.  12 planes back at 17:05.  One landed at Bone.  Met convoy, lower element (48) claims M/V broken in two, one M/V left sinking, one left burning.  4 E/A destroyed.  About 50 E/A attacked 2 B-25’s (Lts:  Hess and McKinney) shot down.  Intense, heavy accurate flak, balloon barrage.  Bombing was at 100-200 feet.  Weather: Clear.  F/L:  Cook and Veum.

A/C No.  41-13205 (MACR-14578) “Lost at Sea.  Aircraft was lost to enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft”)

P McKinney, Charles A. “Charlie”, 1Lt

CP Campbell, John F., 2Lt

N None

B Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt

E Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt

R Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt

G McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt

F Lottes, Richard O., Sgt(ASV)

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http://57thbombwing.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=66838

** 321st Bomb Group History Team; John T Fitzgerald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Connolly. **

Barbi Ennis Connolly PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com 321st Bomb Group Historian in the 57th Bomb Wing. 

** 321st Bomb Group History Team;  John T Fitzgerald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Connolly. **

McKinney, Charles A., "Charlie", 1Lt., Pilot, Enlistment Service # : 34050090
Officer's Service # : O-662466
KILLED IN ACTION On 31 March 1943
448th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:
On March 31, 1943, on a low element sea sweep over the Mediterranean Sea, Off of Northeastern Tunisia, the first battle casualties of the squadron occurred. 2 Crews, (13 Men), and 2 Planes were Lost,1st Lt. Hess, McKinney; 2nd Lts: Campbell, Welton; S/Sgts: Cookman, Hines, Kirol, McGinnis, McMurray, Ratajczyk, Rodgers, Headings and Lottes were shot down into the Mediterranean Sea by enemy fighters. The mission however did succeed in sinking two enemy ships.

At 12:45 15 planes off to bomb on sea sweep, over the Mediterranean Sea. 14 (planes) dropped 84 x 500 bombs. 12 planes back at 17:05. One landed at Bone. Met convoy, lower element (48) claims M/V (Military Vessel) broken in two, one M/V (Military Vessel) left sinking, one left burning. 4 E/A (Enemy Aircraft) destroyed. About 50 E/A (Enemy Aircraft) attacked 2 B-25's (Lts: Hess and McKinney) shot down. Intense, heavy accurate flak, balloon barrage. Bombing was at 100-200 feet. Weather: Clear.
Own Aircraft Losses: Two. B-25C 41-13209 and B-25C 41-13205. One by flak and 1455 hours - 37°35'N, 10°47'E; the other by fighters at 1512 hours - 37°48'N, 10°27E.

Low Element
A/C No. 41-13205 (MACR-14578 "Lost at Sea. Aircraft was lost to enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft")

P: McKinney, Charles A., 1Lt~KIA
CP: Campbell, John F., 2Lt~KIA
N: None
B: Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt~KIA
E: Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt~KIA
R: Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt-KIA
G: McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt~KIA
F: Lottes, Richard O., Sgt(ASV)~KIA

A/C No. 41-13209 "Trouble" (MACR-14579 "Lost at Sea.
Aircraft was lost to enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft")
P->Hess, Robert G., 1Lt - KIA
CP->Welton, Mert J., 2Lt - KIA
N->None
B->McMurray, Walter J., S/Sgt - KIA
E->Rodgers, Herbert E., S/Sgt - KIA
R->Cookman, Harold F., S/Sgt - KIA
G->Hines, Ralph V., S/Sgt - KIA
F->None
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U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
NAME; MC KINNEY  CHARLES  A    ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 34050090  RESIDENCE: STATE  FLORIDA 
COUNTY; LAKE   PLACE OF ENLISTMENT; FT CROCKETT GALVESTON TEXAS
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 12 Dec, 1941  AV#C Aviation Cadet   AC# Air Corps   BRANCH: Air Corps
NATIVITY  GEORGIA YEAR OF BIRTH; 1918   RACE AND CITIZENSHIP; White, citizen
EDUCATION 2 years of college   CIVILIAN OCCUPATION Salespersons   MARITAL STATUS Single, without dependents   Height: 71   Weight: 171
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U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945  Name: Charles A McKinney   Gender: Male
Race: White   Religion: Protestant    Disposition: Nonrecoverable    Service Branch: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant   Service Number: 662466
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World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas   Name: Charles A Mc Kinney;  Inducted From: Florida   Rank: First Lieutenant   Combat Organization: 448th Bomber Squadron 321st Bomber
Death Date: 31 Mar 1943   Monument: North Africa     Last Known Status: Missing
U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal; DFC Distinguished Flying Cross
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U.S. WWII Military Personnel Missing In Action or Lost At Sea, 1941-1946
Name: Charles A McKinney   Date of Loss: 31 Mar 1943    Branch: U.S. Army Air Force    Rank: 1 LT
Service Number: O662466    Status: Missing in Action
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http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/WWII_MIA/AAF
DPMO    Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office
Service Personnel Not Recovered Following World War II
MCKINNEY, CHARLES A O662466 AAF 1 LT 03/31/1943
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http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/wardept/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=1017594& popcount=6&tcount=18
National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Registry~NARA~War Department Files
Honoree Hometown Service Source
Charles A. McKinney Lake County, FL U.S. Army National Archives
1 LT Charles A. McKinney ID: 0-662466
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: Lake County, FL
Status: FOD
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http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/mia/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=682658& popcount=4&tcount=5
National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Registry~NARA~War Department Files
Honoree Hometown Service Source
Charles A. Mc Kinney FL U.S. Army Air Forces ABMC Tablets of the Missing
Charles A. Mc Kinney ID: O-662466
Entered the Service From: Florida
Rank: First Lieutenant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 448th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium
Died: Wednesday, March 31, 1943
Memorialized at: North Africa American Cemetery
Location: Carthage, Tunisia
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart
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1Lt Charles A Mckinney   Birth: unknown   Death: Mar. 31, 1943    Note: Entered the service from Florida.
Burial: North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial ABMC    Tunis, Tunisia    Plot: Not Given
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1920 Census/Edgewood/Fulton Co./Georgia/Roll 253/Enumeration District: 167/Page: 5A
Household Members: Name Age
Jas A Robinson/Head of Household/55/Married/
Tomora M Robinson/Wife/53/Married/
Thomas H McKinney/Son-in-Law/30Married/
Pearl O McKinney/Daughter/30/married/
Russell McKinney/Grandson/10
Thomas H McKinney/Grandson/5
Charles A McKinney/Grandson/1yr~ 8mos
Emily E Townley/Mother-in-Law/81/Widow/
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New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945   Name: Charles McKinney   Arrival Date: 18 Feb 1935   Age: 16
Gender: Male   Port of Departure: Cristobal, Canal Zone   Ship Name: Contessa   Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Birthplace: Georgia, Atlanta   National Archives' Series Number: T905_154

Line 14: Charles McKinney; Age 16; Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia; Address in U.S. Sarasota Hotel, Sarasota, Florida
Line 15: Thomas McKinney, Age 45; Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia~5/20/1889; Address in U.S. Sarasota Hotel, Sarasota, Florida

"Distinguished Flying Cross" Heroism or Extraordinary Acheivement while Participating in Aerial Flight

The Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and Arthur E. Dubois both working at the Army’s Institute of Heraldry. It is a bronze cross pattee, with rays between the arms of the cross. On the obverse is a propeller of four blades, with one blade in each arm of the cross and in the re-entrant angles of the cross are rays which form a square. The cross is suspended by a rectangular-shaped bar and centered on this is a plain shield. The reverse is blank and suitable for engraving the recipient’s name and rank.
*** The ribbon has a narrow red center stripe, flanked on either side by a thin white stripe, a wide stripe of dark blue, a narrow white stripe and narrow dark blue at the edge of the ribbon.
*** The cross symbolizes sacrifice, and the propeller symbolizes flight. The combination of those symbols makes clear that the DFC is an award for heroism or achievement for individuals involved in aviation. The ribbon reflects the national colors.
Subsequent awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are indicated by oak-leaf clusters for Army and Air Force personnel. In World War I, aircraft proved their value for reconnaissance and as weapons platforms. Pilots of those primitive flying machines showed both courage and endurance in carrying out air missions. To recognize their gallantry, the Distinguished Flying Cross was created.
The prime mover behind the DFC was Sen. Hiram Bingham of Connecticut. An air power advocate and veteran World War I pilot, Bingham used his position as a member of the Aircraft Board, to which President Calvin Coolidge had appointed him, to propose that Congress create an aviation award “for heroism or outstanding achievement.”
Bingham’s colleagues established the Distinguished Flying Cross on July 2, 1926. By law, the new decoration could be awarded to anyone in the Air Corps of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps after April 6, 1917, who “distinguished himself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.”