Every Army Air Forces organization was required to file a Missing Aircraft Report (MACR) within 48 hours of when an aircraft was officially reported as missing.
Missing Aircraft Report 4307 officially reported Chuckie and his fellow crew as Missing in Action from their mission that took place on 27 April 1944. The report was made 29 April and date stamped at the War Department in Washington on 10 May 1944. This was the report referenced in the letter to Chuckie’s parents.
The Report listed the official crew:
1st Lieut George William Ambrose , Pilot
2nd Lieut Robert Harry Redhair , Co-pilot
2nd Lieut Peter Roccia , Bombadier
2nd Lieut Arthur Bozeman Pope , Navigator
Staff Sargeant Charles M. Wilson, Top Turret Gunner
Sergeant James Cyrll Mooney , Tail Gunner
Sergeant James Heddelson, Radio operator & gunner
Staff Sergeant George W Henderson, Right Waist gunner
Over the following months and years since the crash, the classified “Secret” MACR Report would eventually grow to include additional information uncovered about the crash over time, first hand accounts from the survivors, some photographs, and information about a monument to these brave aviators erected at the crash site by the grateful people of France, and details of the final resting place for each of those killed in action.
The MACR 4307 is now “public information” and available in the National Archives.
Coming up in the next posts, the secret story Chuckie’s parents, brother and sister were never able to know – what actually happened to Chuckie on that night and the gratitude of the people of France for his bravery and heroism and his ultimate sacrifice for freedom that still stands today.
Unforgotten Glory 