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Charles William Recke

Sergeant Charles W. Recke was a Marine Corps gunner who flew with VMSB-241.
He was shot down and reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 274208

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains not recovered.

Pursuit Category

Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 18, 1919
at Kansas City, MO

Parents

Frank Charles Recke
Bessie Jarman (Welch) Recke

Education

Southeast High School (ex-1940)

Occupation & Employer

Student

Service Life

Entered Service

September 15, 1939
at Kansas City, MO

Home Of Record

6119 Walrond Avenue
Kansas City, MO

Next Of Kin

Parents, Frank & Bessie Recke

Military Specialty

Radioman/Gunner

Primary Unit

VMSB-241

Campaigns Served

Midway

Individual Decorations
Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Seregeant Charles Recke (pronounced Reck-y) was a Marine aviator with VMSB-241, a scout-bomber squadron based at Midway Island in 1942. He was part of the First Section, First Division, led by Major Lofton R. Henderson, and usually flew as a radioman and gunner for 2Lt. Thomas J. Gratzek.

At 0610 hours on 4 June 1942, VMSB-241 took off from Midway and rendezvoused at “Point Affirm” – a safe distance from the airfield, out of the way of an incoming Japanese strike force. A radio message sent them on course to attack an enemy carrier; a two-hour flight brought them within sight of the IJN Hiryū. The carrier sent up a wall of flak, and her fighters quickly climbed to engage the unescorted American bombers.

Captain Armand DeLalio watched nervously as the “Zekes” worked over the leading planes. He saw Gratzek and Recke’s bomber “in position above and ahead” as a Japanese pilot made a head-on diving attack. “Lieutenant Gratzek’s plane… broke into flames around the engine and he left the formation,” DeLalio later reported. He was the last American to see SBD-2 #2119.

Recke and Gratzek were reported as missing in action following the Hiryū strike. They were officially declared dead on 5 June 1943.

Burial Information or Disposition

Shot down at sea; remains not recovered.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of parents, Frank & Bessie Recke.

Location Of Loss

Recke was shot down at an unspecified point after departing from Midway.

Related Profiles

Personnel of VMSB-241 lost at Midway
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