1st Lt. Charles F. Gumm Jr.
355th Squadron, 354th Fighter Group
9th USAAF
U.S. Army Air Forces ID: 0-730466

A hero from World War II

Lieutenant Charles "Chuck" Gumm Jr. was born on 29th October, 1920 in Spokane, Washington, and was a relative of the entertainer Judy Garland - born Frances Ethel "Baby" Gumm. He graduated from the John R. Rogers High School in 1939 from where he then proceeded to Gonzaga University to continue further his education. In 1942, following the US entry into World War 2, and shortly after marrying his high school sweet heart, Muriel, Gumm left university to volunteer for training in the USAAF. He joined the 354th Fighter Group (The Pioneer Mustang Group) of the 355th Fighter Squadron (Pugnacious Pups) where he undertook his training as a pilot. The Fighter Group was then eventually posted to England. After crossing the U.S. by train they arrived in Manhattan where they were loaded onto the HMS Athlone Castle,  and set sail for Liverpool. They arrived on 1st November, but could not move into the dock until the 3rd owing to a thick fog which hung over the harbour. Early on 4th November they disembarked and made their way to the Greenham Common airbase, which was to become their first home in England. But this would be only a short stay and, on 13th November, they were posted to Boxted airfield, Station 150, (located at Long 0:55:59E, Lat 51:56:19N - map ) in the small rural East Anglian village of Langham, which lies on the Essex-Suffolk border, close to Nayland.  The Air Ministry usually named airfields after the nearest village or town. However, there already existed an airfield named Langham in Norfolk, so in this case the airfield was named after the next nearest village, Boxted. 

Two days before leaving Greenham Common, the 354th Fighter Group received its first combat airplanes, the new Merlin-engined P-51 Mustang fighters which, when fitted with additional drop fuel tanks, could escort allied bombers all the way to Germany. The 354th Fighter Group were called "The Pioneer Mustang Group" because they were the first group to fly these new P-51B Mustangs. Lt Gumm soon saw action and on a mission to Bremen, 16 December, 1943, is credited with being the first P-51 Mustang pilot to shoot down an enemy plane over Europe - a Bf-110 over Breman. He returned to base with a claim of one JU 88 damaged and one Bf 109 shot down at 1330 hours. A little over two months later on 21st February, 1944, Lt. Gumm became the first of many 354th Fighter Group aces  by downing a Bf 110 over Brunswick at 1430 hours - the accepted definition of a fighter pilot ace is one who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft. Lt. Gumm was assigned two aircraft, both of which he named "My Toni" after the baby daughter he left back in Spokane. After a six month stay the 354th moved to Lashenden, and thence to Criqueville, France in August 1944, following the Normandy invasion.

In a cruel twist of fate, Lt. Gumm's career ended very unexpectedly on 1st March, 1944 when he made the ultimate sacrifice. The P-51 Mustang (P-51B1, 43-12165) he was checking out crashed after its engine lost power on take-off.  Observers of the crash, and in particular Canon  W. Wright of St. James Vicarage, reported that Gumm could have parachuted to safety but chose to stay with the plane which crashed into an open field outside town. He realized he was over the Nayland village and that if he bailed out to save himself his plane would crash into the English town and claim innocent lives.  He therefore decided to remain with his plane to steer it away from the village and to attempt a forced landing. It crash landed on the banks of the river Stour near 'Court Knoll' but, unfortunately, at the last moment his Mustang hit a tree and he was thrown out of the cockpit and killed.

The Court Knoll earthworks (located at Long 0:52:22E, Lat 51:58:09N - map ) is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and was the subject of an Archaeological, Geophysical & Historical Study by the Nayland with Wissington Conservation Society. The Study began in 2001 and a final report was issued in 2003.

The residents of Nayland were deeply moved by Gumm's clear and unmistakable gallantry and commissioned a memorial plaque. They installed a bench in St James's churchyard with two brass plates afixed; one with a dedication to the young hero, whilst the other has the apt poem, 'A life that I have', by Leo Marks, inscribed as follows,

The people of Nayland had for many years lobbied unsuccessfully with the War Graves Commission to have Lt. Gumm's name recorded on the Village War Memorial. However, they eventually succeeded and on Saturday 31st March 2001, to commemorate this event, a new bench was was erected in the centre of Nayland Village near the War Memorial. It replaces the original in St. James's churchyard which had decayed.  ...some photographs.

The story of Lt. Gumm's heroism was recounted at the time in the 'Stars and Stripes' - see below.

During his brief flying career, Gumm received the air medal and three oak leaf clusters. He was also awarded, posthumously, the silver star, the soldiers medal and the distinguished flying cross for gallantry in action.  At the time of Lt. Gumm's death he was the leading ace for the group with 7½ victories to his credit.

Some more background to Lt. Gumm's arrival and service in Boxted is provided here.

Lt. Gumm is buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in his home town of Spokane, Washington, United States of America - where he is still remembered. He was survived by his wife Muriel R. and 10month old daughter Toni, and also by his sister Lucille who currently lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (source: The Spokesman-Review.com ). Muriel subsequently remarried and and adopted her new husband's surname, Shearin.

Lt. Charles F. Gumm's heroic deed is remembered still with a wreath being laid on on his bench each remembrance day.

ooOoo

The following is a reconstruction of a report printed in the "Stars and Stripes"
 - click here for picture of actual cutting.

Village Honors Flier Who Died To Save Its Civilians in Crash

    Action Took Place 1 Mar 1944

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