Mannka, Charles Pershing

Individual Personnel Data
Name Mannka, Charles Pershing   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-738710   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #42 dated 4 July 1943, effective 4 July 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 14 October 1943
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium: Plot C Row 6 Grave 19
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 13 September 1918
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Victorville AAF, Victorville, California, Class #43-03, 13 February 1943.
  • Ordered on Temporary duty to the American red Cross Club, Southport (a Flak House) for seven days per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #66 dated 8 August 1943.
  • Died in POW camp. From Story of 1Lt.Luther C Cox, Stalag Luft III,93rd Bomb Group: 'Today the eight of June 1944, Lt.Mannka died, just one week after he had been taken from the camp ill. The Goons sent back the report that he had died of pneumonia. But some of us know the real answer. Perhaps he did die of pneumonia, but why? Because he had been thrown into a cold damp cell in solitary confinement where he had remained without any clothes for days until he died. It was murder, thats what it was. This isn't the first time a sick man left the confines of our camp never to return. The same report always comes back, DIED OF PNEUMONIA, when it should read: MURDERED... Several days later, our buddy, Lt. Mannka, was buried at Liegnity, Germany, Standort Cemetery, part 5, Grave 880.'
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 840⇓ (17.474 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Harry, William Russell⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Rice, Ivan Luther⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Black, David Hall⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Mannka, Charles PershingBombardierKIA
T/SGT. Simpson, Edward Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. Reed, Curry Allen⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
S/SGT. McKenna, John Conat⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Parent, Leroy (NMI)⇗Tail GunnerPOW
CPL. Iverson, Bennie Franklin⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Wheeler, Tom Brooks⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30145⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back 15 miles from English coast because ball turret was inoperative and the RPM on engine #1 dropped to zero.
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30145⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back before target with major battle damage.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5051⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back almost immediately because of leak in oxygen system.
Sortie Report⇗
13⇗ 30 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Crash-landed at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return, with extensive battle damage due to enemy aircraft and flak, with five wounded crewmen aboard. 2nd Lt. William Russell Harry awarded Silver Star (see 'As Briefed' p. 197).
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Bombardier 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Bombardier 42‑29935⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑29935⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Bombardier 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Bombardier 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑30005.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30196.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29800⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Knocked down by enemy aircraft; crashed near Simmershofen, Germany; MACR 840.
Sortie Report⇗

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