One sad truth Unforgotten Glory uncovered in research for this In Memoriam project is that many families were deliberately not ever told the full truth about the circumstances related to their loved ones’ death or contribution to Freedom – to protect the Carpetbagger secrets for over 50 years. Chuckie’s family waited for two long years – and nearly one year after the war ended – with the uncertainty that their son, their brother, their cousin, their uncle, their friend was “Missing In Action” and hope he might soon return home safely. Yet all that time the War Department knew he was killed in action from confirmation they received just ten days after Chuckie’s plane crashed from the French Resistance who retrieved his body from the wreckage and buried him.

When the news his family feared finally came to the Wilsons the letter contained many facts but also some fabrication and omissions likely put forward by the War Department as a plausible cover story so that the Carpetbagger Project would remain ‘S E C R E T‘ and to explain the delay.

“Dear Mrs. Wilson:

In am writing to you in reference to your son who lost his life in the service of his Country during the European conflict.

In an effort to furnish the next of kin with all available details concerning casualties among our personnel, the Army Air Forces recently completed the translation of several volumes of captured German records. [Untrue]

Captured German records? ~ This couldn’t have been true.

Chuckie’s commanding officer knew on 4 May 1944 ten days after the crash when the French resistance reported back to London he was killed, how he died and where they buried him. Three months later on 27 Aug 1944 his commanding officer got two first person accounts from two of Chuckie’s fellow crew who saw him dead that night. Then, on 22 April 1945 there was the very public ceremony in France with newspaper photographers and reporters and Chuckie’s squadron commander speaking.

“In regard to Staff Sergeant Charles M, Wilson, these records indicate that he was killed 28 April 1944 , when his B-24 (Liberator) bomber crash landed at Sr. Cry de Valorges, near Lyon, France. These records further state that his body was interred in the new cemetery of Lyon, row #3, grave #1.
The Quartermaster General, in his capacity as Chief, American Grave Registration Service, is charged with the responsibility of notifying the legal next of kin concerning grave locations of members of the military forces who are killed or die outside the continental limits of the United States. If the report of your son’s burial has not been confirmed and you have not been notified by the quartermaster General, that official will furnish you definite information immediately upon receipt of the official report of interment from the Commanding General to the theater concerned.
May the knowledge of your son’s valuable contribution to our cause sustain you in your bereavement.
Very sincerely,“

The letter was signed by Brigadier General Leon W John

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Leon W. Johnson
Brigadier General, USA
Chief, Personnel Services Division

During World War II, Johnson was one of the first four flying officers of the Eighth Air Force, and served on it staff during its formative period at Savannah, Georgia. In 1943, he assumed command of the 44th Bombardment Group, which flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
After V-E Day, he was Chief of Personnel Services at Headquarters, Army Air Forces, in Washington, DC, from 28 June 1945 to 15 May 1946.

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The need to protect top secret missions in wartime to advance war objectives and prevent further harm and loss of life is certainly understandable. Yet, a consequence of protecting the Carpetbagger secrets were the parents, brothers, sisters, and other families such as Chuckie’s who lived the rest of their entire lives not ever knowing the facts of these brave men and the glory of their deeds that we know today.

In gratitude this project has reclaimed a more complete story of Charles M Wilson story which has now been widely shared with with others today and into the future In Memoriam.
A bit more of the story to come ~ Unforgotten Glory