Charles F. Waddell was born on October 13, 1921, in Queens, Queens County, New York. He was the son of John D. Waddell and Jennie Balke Waddell. He was married to Margaret Campbell. Before joining the military on January 9, 1942, he had earned a civilian pilot’s license from the Roosevelt Aviation School and had been working as a mechanic. He served in the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomb Group, Medium, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-26 Marauder #42-96210 during World War II.

On June 14, 1944, B-26 Marauder 42-96210 took off from Station 161 Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, for a mission targeting Cloyes-sur-le-Loir, France. At approximately 07:40 A.M., while flying over the Commune of Saint-Péravy-la-Colombe in the Loiret department, about 12 km southwest of Châteaudun, the aircraft was struck by enemy flak. The anti-aircraft fire critically damaged the plane, causing it to be completely destroyed in the air, and it crashed in the area. All six crew members were killed in action.

2Lt Waddell is now buried in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France.

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