Edmund Charlesworth
T/SGT. Edmund Thorpe Charlesworth Sr., 353rd BS
Edmund Thorpe Charlesworth Sr. died Monday, May 10, 2010 in Montgomery Hospital in Norristown. He was 98.
Mr. Charlesworth, a lifelong resident of the Cold Point section of Plymouth Meeting, was born on May 5, 1912 in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. At an early age he moved with his parents to Norristown. He was the son of the late Thomas J. and Sarah Jane (Irons) Charlesworth and the loving husband of the late Virginia Alberta (Miller) Charlesworth, who passed away in 1999. He was the brother of the late Marian Morris and Thomas J. Charlesworth Jr.
Mr. Charlesworth was a veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard, C Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry in Norristown having joined in 1938 and retiring in 1968, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He was also a veteran of World War II having enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1943. He was assigned to the 353rd Bomb Squadron of the 301st Bomb Group in the 15th Air Force based at Foggia Field, Italy. Then Tech Sergeant Charlesworth became the flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. On December 18, 1944 his B-17 was shot down over Yugoslavia ( MACR 10893 ). All ten of the crewmen were forced to bail out of the damaged plane in enemy territory. Being spread out, some were captured and some escaped and evaded. After several weeks of being missing in action, Sergeant Charlesworth made it back to Italy, after which he rejoined his bomb group and continued flying bombing missions until his discharge on June 19, 1945.
Mr. Charlesworth was a lifelong member of Norristown Lodge #620 F. & A.M. having achieved the 32nd Degree level. He will be sorely missed by his friends and constituents. During his civilian years, Mr. Charlesworth was employed at the former Alan Wood Steel Company having retired in 1977. He then worked part time as a security officer for Spectra Guard. In his spare time, Mr. Charlesworth took college courses and pursued his dream of becoming a Paleontologist. His favorite pastime was going out on digs in various locations. Mr. Charlesworth is survived by a daughter, Vivian Brennan; a son, Edmund T. Charlesworth, Jr. and his wife, Nancy; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 13 at the Bailey Funeral Chapel, Ltd., 815-17 W. Marshall St., Norristown. Funeral service and interment will be in Riverside Cemetery held privately at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are by Bailey Funeral Chapel Ltd., Norristown, PA; 610-272-0414.
MACR: 10893
T/Sgt. Edmund T Charlesworth was assigned to the 301st BG 353rd Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Engineer.
The following information on Edmund Charlesworth is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on T/Sgt. Charlesworth. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Edmund Charlesworth's military record please contact us.
| |
Rank |
General Order |
Date |
Notes |
Award |
Ribbon & Device |
Edmund Charlesworth |
S/Sgt |
3285 |
09/11/1944 |
|
AM |
|
Edmund Charlesworth |
T/Sgt |
4618 |
11/22/1944 |
|
AM/OLC |
|
Edmund Charlesworth |
T/Sgt. |
3213 |
05/16/1945 |
|
AM/3OLC |
|
Edmund Charlesworth |
T/Sgt |
3213 |
05/16/1945 |
|
AM/3OLC |
|
5/16/1945 General Orders 3213 AM
Please contact us if you can assist with any biographical data, pictures or other information regarding the service and life of Edmund Charlesworth.
|
