Remembering World War II

Name: Charles Frederick Bishop Rank: Second Lieutenant Service Number: 0-814227 Service: Headquarters Squadron, XIII Bomber Command United States Army Air Forces Date of Birth: July 5, 1923 Place of Birth: Oakland, Alameda, California Place of Enlistment: California Address at Enlistment: Berkeley, Alameda Co., California Height: 6 feet, 1 inch Complexion: Light Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Date of Death: March 1, 1944 Age: 20 Cemetery: Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Reference: Tablets/Walls of the Missing Memorialized at the Paradise Cemetery in Paradise, Annapolis County on his Parent’s Headstone Charles Frederick Bishop was the son of Edgar Stanley Bishop (1899-1959) and Ida Lydia (Roberts) Bishop (1896-1990). His father was born in Paradise, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia; his mother was born in Millville, Shasta County, California. Charles had one sister, Marian Constance (Bishop) Leonard (1922- 2007). The family was living in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana in 1930. Charles’ father was working as an industrial Superintendent. By 1940, Charles’ father was working as a Sales Manager, and the family were living 762 Peralta Avenue in Berkeley, Alameda County, California. Charles’ time at Berkeley High School was marked by outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship, and leadership. He was a member of the Honour Society, earned letters in football, basketball, and track, and was elected president of the school in his senior year. After graduating on January 22, 1941, Charles enrolled at the University of California and was in attendance there for a year and a half. He planned to major in forestry. Charles registered for the US Draft on June 30, 1942 at the age of 18 in Berkeley. At the time he was working for the Department of the Interior at Yosemite National Park. As of November 16, 1942, his address had changed to 2330 Warring Street in Berkeley and his parents were living at 141 West Magnolia Street in Stockton, California. At enlistment, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. His training took him to Colorado. He would go on to serve in the Headquarters Squadron in XIII Bomber Command in the Pacific Theatre at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. On March 1, 1944 Charles’ B-24D Liberator serial #42-40877 departed Carney Field (Bomber 2 Field) on Guadalcanal on a training mission and was piloted by 2nd Lieutenant George A. Singletary. During the flight, their bomber spun into the sea 1.5 km north of Longava (now known as Lungua) on Buena Vista Island in the Florida Island Group at roughly Lat 8° 55' S Long 160° 5' E. The full crew was: Pilot 2nd Lt. George A. Singletary, O-682909; Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas P. Frank, O-692959; Culpeper County, Virginia Navigator 2nd Lt. Charles F. Bishop, O-814227; San Joaquin County, California Engineer SSgt Floyd R. Frazier, 37381558; Missouri Gunner Pvt Gene Seaton, 37651407; Scott County, Iowa Radio SSgt Edwin O. Rudolf, 17161555; St. Louis, Missouri Gunner Sgt John R. Murray, 13125163; Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Gunner Sgt Lester K. Ellingson, 37660982; Winneshiek County, Iowa Gunner Sgt Benjamin E. Pulliam, 37226423; Bourbon County, Kansas Charles had only arrived for advanced training a few weeks before March 1, 1944. The entire crew with the exception of Benjamin Pulliam was killed in the crash. When this aircraft failed to return the entire crew was declared Missing in Action (MIA). Gunner Pulliam was injured in the crash and was later rescued. He was transported to U. S. Navy Advance Navy Base No. 152 and died on March 27, 1944. After the crash, the remains of Thomas Frank and Floyd Frazier were recovered. Postwar, their remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. The wing section of the wreck of the Liberator remains in situ underwater. The wreckage includes the wings, landing gear and center section of the fuselage. During the 1980’s the wreckage of this aircraft was rediscovered. Inside the fuselage was a parachute, partially opened. In 2016, a sonar image of the wing was taken, and SCUBA dives were conducted by the US Humanitarian Demining Mission with the Solomon Islands Police. Second Lieutenant Charles Frederick Bishop name is commemorated on the Wall of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines. His date of death is incorrectly recorded as July 1, 1944, with the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Charles Frederick Bishop

Sources: American Battle Monuments Commission pacificwrecks.com

Charles Bishop (top row, 3rd from left) Photo was taken prior to being sent to the Pacific.