Person Sheet

Name Charles Delbert Walts  Birth 12 Feb 1917, Georgetown, In Death 19 Oct 2004, Georgetown, In Burial 22 Oct 2004, Wolfe Cem, Georgetown, In Occupation Postmaster Of Georgetown Father Shelby Walts (1876-1953) Mother Maggie May Hottel (1891-1970)
Spouses
1 Thelma Marie Avery (Living)
Children Gregory Louis (Living) LuAnn (Living) Allen Avery (Living)
Notes for Charles Delbert Walts
War hero and B-17 pilot during WW-II (see military notes). Reported missing in action 10 Oct 1943 on his 5th mission over Germany (During the Munster raids); and family received word on 22 Oct. Rcvd telegram he is a POW 9 Dec 1943. POW for 18 mos in Germany. Rcvd first letter and card 2 Mar 44. Liberated 2 May 1945, left camp 14 May, home 26 Jun, discharged 17 Jan 1946. Like his GG-grandfather (Henry Walts), Charles was Georgetown's postmaster for many years. Built new home in Georgetown 1948 - moved in when LuAnn was 5 days old. Master gardener, kept us all in veggies most of every summer. The following is from the official 100th Bomb Group web site: this is the crew of his B-17 aircraft #42 SN 30823 - the "Invadin Maiden" (the Gnome) of the 350th Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group Rank Name Task Fate Date Where 2nd Lt. Charles D. Walts P POW 10-Oct-43 Munster 2nd Lt. Jerome H. Wallace CP KIA 10-Oct-43 Munster 2nd Lt. Louis H. Oss NAV POW 10-Oct-43 Munster 2nd Lt. Richard C. Dodson BOM KIA 10-Oct-43 Munster T/Sgt Travis L. Brumbeau ROG POW 10-Oct-43 Munster S/Sgt Clyde M. Walker TTE KIA 10-Oct-43 Munster Sgt Herny A. Gratzfeld BTG KIA 10-Oct-43 Munster S/Sgt Thomas E. Murphy WG POW 10-Oct-43 Munster Sgt Frank E. Featherstone WG KIA 10-Oct-43 Munster Sgt William O. Higginbotham TG POW 10-Oct-43 Munster 350th Sqdn. This was the fourth mission for the crew. Sgt. Walker may have died of wounds in hospital or POW camp. STATEMENT (in MACR) BY Lt.Walts: "Lt Oss climbed out nose of plane (it had broken in half) after it had come out of spin over target at 1500 ft. Sgts. Higginbotham & Murphy bailed out before it went into the spin. Sgt. Brumbeau believes he was thrown from plane when it broke in two. Sgt. Murphy wounded by burst of 20mm just as he and Fetherstone were about to jump. Fetherstone probably killed by this burst. Oss recalled seeing Lt. Dodson lying in nose of plane and believed him dead or mortally wounded." As Walts was crawling to the escape hatch he had to crawl over Lt Wallace and noticed that blood covered his face.