The Carpetbaggers had a hiatus of ten nights between 11 April and 21 April 1944 when combat missions from Harrington, England to France resumed. Historical records show many crews, including Chuckie’s, went off base on personal leave starting on 18 April. No record exists of where in England Chuckie and his fellow Ambrose Crew traveled on their three days of leave.

This undated photo captures a few US Army Air Force personnel enjoying a day of leave in London. They are sitting on the Westminster Bridge with the Thames River behind them. A happy day in London like the one in this photo was, perhaps, how Chuckie spent his last days.

The Carpetbaggers were all ages, shapes and sizes.
They became close friends.

Off duty activities at Harrington included church services, eating at the mess hall, mail call, getting paid at the payroll ten, checking out the library, listening to music and raising puppies and pigs.

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Historian Thomas L Ensminger’s book Spies, Supplies and Moonlit Skies, Volume II: The French Connection, April-June 1944, provides a wealth of illumniating and previously unknown facts related to Chuckie’s Carpetbagger missions based on historical records. Upon their return to active duty at Harrington, all remaining operational nights in April 1944 would be more dangerous dark flights – with no moonlight to help guide them. Whether this was necessity, or deemed as necessary for the buildup prior to D-Day and to be tested, is not recorded.

Chuckie would make just two more flights.