Captain Charles Frederick Pratte Jr., An Airman's Story
Captain Charles Frederick Pratte Jr., An Airman's Story
As global conflict intensified, Captain Pratte enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on April 8, 1941, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor would bring the United States fully into World War II. After completing flight training, he was assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Squadron and stationed at Hickam Field in Hawaii, placing him at the very center of the Pacific theater.
An accomplished bomber pilot, Captain Pratte flew the Consolidated B-24 Liberator in multiple major campaigns of the Pacific War. He participated in the pivotal Battle of Midway in June 1942, a decisive turning point that shifted naval dominance in favor of the United States. He later provided air support during the Guadalcanal and North Solomon campaigns, part of the hard-fought island-hopping strategy that gradually pushed Japanese forces back across the Pacific. His service also extended to the Gilbert and Marshall Islands offensive, helping secure critical strategic positions in support of the Allied advance.
In March 1944, while piloting the B-24 “Belle of Texas,” Captain Pratte faced one of the defining moments of his career. The aircraft came under heavy attack and suffered severe damage. With compromised braking systems and limited options upon landing, Captain Pratte ordered parachutes to be secured to the gun mounts to create additional drag, an improvised and daring solution that allowed the aircraft to be brought safely to the ground. The crew survived.
The aircraft was repaired and, bearing the visible scars of battle, was renamed “Patches.” It returned to active service and continued flying missions until January 22, 1945, when the plane and all aboard disappeared after departing from Saipan. Despite search efforts, no trace of the aircraft or its crew was ever found.
Captain Charles Frederick Pratte Jr. is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, among those whose sacrifice is recorded, though their final resting place remains unknown.
His story is one of courage under fire, steady leadership, and devotion to duty in one of the most demanding theaters of World War II.
He flew into history and never came home, but he is not forgotten.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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