Charles Kelliher was born in 1916 in Massachusetts. He resided in Hampden County, Massachusetts prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on March 5, 1941, prior to the war, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Single, without dependents. Charles served as a Corporal and Gunner on B-25J #43-3961, 82nd Bomber Squadron, 12th Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-25J #43-3961 took off, with a crew of 6 & two other B-25's, from Pandaveswar, India on a Ammunition Ferrying Mission to Palel, India. After takeoff they seen by the other B-25's, however due to extreme cumulus clouds, they were eventually not seen again on June 20, 1944. They were believed to be lost either due to the weather conditions or mechanical failure. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until February 11, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov