Charles B Narehood was born on May 19, 1922, in Pennsylvania, USA. His parents, Leonard and Jeanette, were both born in Pennsylvania. Charles has one older brother, three younger brothers, and nine younger sisters. His father was a Mechanic. By 1940, Charles completed four years of High School and was a Farm Laborer.

Charles enlisted on October 7, 1940.

He graduated from Walnut Ridge Flying School.

Charles flew as a 1st Lieutenant in the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. His service number was O-801336. He flew a P-47D with the serial number of 42-26244.

The 362nd, nicknamed Mogin’s Maulers, took part in Operation Overlord. In fact, they escorted some C-47s, who were carrying paratroops. They also helped attack targets as the Allies advanced into France.

On June 13, 1944 while on a support mission he witnessed a crash by Lt. Skeen while he was attempting to strafe a truck. According to Charles, Lt. Skeen had gotten too close to the trucks he was attacking and hit a tree in a forest near the road. Lt. Skeen survived but was forced to destroy his plane with a grenade.

While Charles was on a ground support mission in July of 1944, his plane was hit by flak east by Peray. His plane on fire, he was forced to crash land in a field North, North West of Peray. That was the last time anyone saw him according to 2nd Lt. Kenneth E. Placek, who had reported that he was unable to see if Charles had gotten out of his plane.

For his service, Charles was awarded The Silver Star, Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, and a Purple Heart Medal.

His name is carved on the Tablets of the Missing in the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial.

Charles’ Brother William

William B Narehood enlisted on 6 August 1942 in Syracuse, New York. He had been a mechanic before enlisting. He became a Sergeant for the Us Army Air Force during WW2.

Sources:

++https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11211008:2442?tid=8360255&pid=392168830871++

++https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56352218/charles-b-narehood++

++https://www.fold3.com/record/529918521/american-battle-monuments-commission-charles-b-narehood++

++https://www.fold3.com/image/29399028?terms=b,charles,narehood++

++https://www.fold3.com/image/29407136++

++https://www.fold3.com/image/29407134++

++https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/8360255/person/392125258975/facts++

++https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11211002:2442?tid=8360255&pid=392125258975++

++https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/8360255/person/392167800800/facts++

++https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/11211004:2442?tid=8360255&pid=392167800800++

++https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38351956/william-b.-narehood++

++https://www.fold3.com/record/86223337/world-war-ii-army-enlistment-records-william-b-narehood++

++https://www.fold3.com/record/714281945/u-s-veterans-gravesites-ca-1775-2019-narehood-william-b++

++http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/308++

Thank you 1st Lieutenant Charles B Narehood for your service and your sacrifice, you will not be forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

STARSProject/Pennsylvania