Charles C. (Charlie) Hickey Jr

by John R. (Jack) Hickey
(Leesburg, FL, United States of America )

2Lt Charles C. Hickey Jr, my father, was a B-24 Navigator/Bombardier, with the 376th Bomb Group, operating from San Pancrazio Italy, Feb-Apr 1945. My father was born in New Britain CT, spent much of his childhood, and adult life, in Bridgeport CT. Following his time in Italy, he married Mabel R. Donovan, of Somerville MA, in May 1945. After the war, he worked for Raybestos, Stratford CT, and raised six children. Charles’ eldest son served as an officer in the Merchant Marines. His oldest daughter served as a nurse, and Captain, in the United States Air Force. I, Charles’ youngest son, served as a pilot, retiring as a LtCol in the United States Air Force. Charles passed away in April 2005, and is interred beside Mabel, his wife, in Trumbull CT. He enjoyed cars, travel and western movies. He was alway eager to help a friend, or family member, in need. I love you Dad.

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May 06, 2023
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Money for killing air crew
by: Jack Sammon

My uncle , a gunner in the unit , said that the first clue that indicated the guy was the fact that he regularly was sending home large amts of$ . He never gambled or participated in any other activity that would account for this

May 05, 2023
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Thanks for the info!
by: Clark A Baldon

Thanks for your Fathers service and his long life afterwards! My Uncle 2Lt Roy A Accola (C0-Pilot) was also stationed in San Pancrazio, Italy. He was in the 376th Bombardment Group and 513 Bomb Squadron. He and his crew of 10 were killed 15 Aug 1944 on takeoff from a man-made explosion. It was caused from a hidden hand grenade on the wheel strut. The grenade pin was pulled when the wheel retracted pulling the pin causing the explosion. It was placed there by an American Sgt working on the flight line gassing up the planes before take-off. There could be as many as 8 planes or more that were sabotaged this way. It was all kept TOP SECRET. He was caught, tried, convicted and executed the same day. The records were evidently burned up in a fire in Jefferson Barracks in St Louis. My family only learned this years later from a man that was on the Tribunal Board that tried the guy.

May 05, 2023
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Thanks for the info!
by: Clark A Baldon

Thanks for your Fathers service and his long life afterwards! My Uncle 2Lt Roy A Accola was also stationed in San Pancrazio, Italy. He was in the 376th Bombardment Group and 513 Bomb Squadron. He and his crew of 10 were killed 15 Aug 1944 on takeoff from a man-made explosion. It was caused from a hidden hand grenade on the wheel strut. The grenade pin was pulled when the wheel retracted pulling the pin causing the explosion. It was placed there by an American Sgt working on the flight line gassing up the planes before take-off. There could be as many as 8 planes or more that were sabotaged this way. It was all kept TOP SECRET. He was caught, tried, convicted and executed the same day. The records were evidently burned up in a fire in Jefferson Barracks in St Louis. My family only learned this years later from a man that was on the Tribunal Board that tried the guy.

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376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

Donate directly to the 376 Endowment

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My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019