Cpl. Eugene H. Charpier - KIA 11 Oct 1944 - 379th BG

[Leendert]

Trying to establish the location of death of Cpl. Charpier (ASN 36747605), 526th BS/379th BG. He got hit by shrapnel and died upon landing somewhere in (western) Belgium. B-17G was 42-38058 piloted by Lt. Robert E. Mullen. A/c was not lost after emergency landing 'in potato field', but saw service again.

Charpier's IDPF says he was initially buried at Evere (Brussels). Still according the IDPF his Emergency Medical Tag was signed by a certain "Lt. R.D. Feze, 33rd British Field Hospital".

If "33rd" not a typo, where was this Field Hospital stationed in mid-October 1944? Name of Lt. Feze also draws blanks. IDPF provides no conclusive info.

Accounts by other crew members suggest Scheldt area just within Allied lines and with British heavy caliber artillery activity in direct vicinity.

War diaries of BS and BG offer no location other from 'Belgium'.

Any info welcome, thanks.

Leendert

[Luc Vervoort]

Hello Leendert,

https://nl.findagrave.com/memorial/5...henry-charpier

mentions near Ghent (= Gent).

Best regards

Luc

[Leendert]

Yes, I had noticed. Wondering however what source is behind this. Available USAAF documents and crew member accounts keep me in the dark on this point.
Also confusing is a Daily Aircraft Status report that says that 42-38058 was 'abandoned' on the Continent. In reality, in returned to the US in July 1945.

Leendert