Charles D. Crofts was born on March 28, 1920, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was the son of Charles E. and Mary V. Crofts.

Charles enlisted in the Air Corps in 1942. He served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-17G #43-38184 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 1, 1944, when his airplane collided with B17 #43-37941.

That day, his crew took off from Station 134 in Eye, Suffolk, on a group mission to Gustavburg, Germany. When the target was not visible through the overcast, their mission was aborted, and the group executed a 180-degree turn to return to base. At 11:59 AM near Anthieux-Sur-Calonne, France, while flying through the dense clouds, his plane collided with the alongside #43-37941 after crossing the French coast at 18,000 feet.

Three of his crewmates were able to evacuate the aircraft and later have recovered from the injuries they sustained upon landing. The rest of the crew members were killed in the crash near Cabourg, France. Both aircraft suffered catastrophic structural failure.

2Lt Crofts is now buried in the Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA.

Crew members of the B-17G #43-38184:
Major Lamont D Haas - Command Pilot (KIA)
1Lt John Mannon Kirklin - Pilot (Survived)
2Lt Robert E. Russell - Co-Pilot (KIA)
1Lt George J Kurtz III - Navigator (KIA)
2Lt Charles D. Crofts - Bombardier (KIA)
T/Sgt Joe Wilson Ripple - Radio Operator/Gunner (KIA)
T/Sgt Oren W Simpsons - Mechanic/Gunner (Survived)
S/Sgt Lloyd M. Hudson - Ball Turret Gunner (KIA)
S/Sgt Richard V Weber - Waist Gunner (KIA)
S/Sgt William Shiffer Jr - Flight Engineer/Rear Gunner (Survived)

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net