CAPT Charles Minor Mead

Familial History

CAPT Charles Minor Mead was born 13 November 1918 in Calera, Bryan County, Oklahoma to Jessie Alma Paulk and Simon Minor Mead. He died 29 December 1944 when his P-51 Mustang was shot down during aerial combat southwest of Koblenz, Germany.

He married Leta L. Meredith on 10 March 1942 in Maricopa County, Arizona. Leta was born 1919. She died 1962 in California and laid to rest in the Good Shepherd Cemetery, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California. Her Memorial # was 195089569.

Jessie Alma Paulk was born 14 December 1898 in Texas City, Texas to Lola Frances Lynn and Henry Charles Paulk. She passed away during June 1986 and laid to rest next to Simon. Her Memorial # was 195001065. Jessie married Simon 12 August 1917 in Bryan County, Oklahoma.

Simon Minor Mead was born 7 February 1888 in Oklahoma to Frances Elizabeth Kemp and Santford Minor Mead. He died 24 October 1968 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona and interred in the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona. His Memorial # was 195001064. Simon was a veteran of World War I.

The Mead union produced 2 children composed of 1 daughter and 1 son. Their names are listed chronologically with corresponding birth and death dates: CAPT Charles Minor Mead and Betty Jean Mead Mason (3 January 1925-28 January 2013).

Service History:

CAPT Charles Minor Mead registered for the draft 16 October 1940 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was gainfully employed by Momsen-Dunnegan-Ryan Company, was 71 inches in height, and weighed 144 pounds. His father signed as the next of kin.

He was assigned to the 504the Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group. His Service Number was O-442532.

The 339th was constituted 3 August 1942 at Hunter Field, Georgia. The group was ordered to Drew Field, Florida (February 1943), Walterboro Army Airfield, South Carolina (July 1943), and finally Rice Army Airfield, California (September 1943).

His P-51 was # 44-14287 “Pin-Up Girl” and the Missing Air Crew Report was (MACR) #11453. The information stated that he was shot down at 1230 hours southwest of Koblenz, Germany. In April 1944, they were stationed at RAF Fowlmere (USAAF Station 378) in England. It was located 4.2 miles northeast of Royston, Hertfordshire, England.

CAPT Charles Minor Mead was buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Hamm, Canton de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. The Plot was H, Row 10. Grave 1, and the Memorial # was 56062501. Mrs. Leta L. Mead signed the US Headstone and Interment Records for his headstone.

Commendations:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Purple Heart

Stories Behind the Stars:

Thank you, CAPT Charles Minor Mead of the US Army Air Corps, for your sacrifice and service to our country.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII Fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’ s name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you can contact the author, Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by”.

The author is Dr. Jack W. Chisum, and the email is jchisum@q.com.

Resources:

Charles M Mead : Captain from Arizona, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

Capt Charles M Mead (1918-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial

CPT Charles M. Mead (militaryhallofhonor.com)

Missing Air Crew Reports December 1944 (accident-report.com)

USAAF Missing Aircrew Reports - December 1944 (aviationarchaeology.com)

Missing Air Crew Reports December 1944 (accident-report.com)

Missing Air Crew Report - 11453 - 44-14287 - 12/29/1944 (armyaircorpsmuseum.org)

44-14287 | American Air Museum

Charles M Mead | American Air Museum

Fowlmere Airfield - Wikipedia

339th Fighter Group - Wikipedia