Charles McCook MIA Since 1943 Mission Over Burma

1st Lt. Charles Woodruff “Woody” McCook was recently brought home to rest, 82 years after he was lost in a low-level mission over Burma on August 3, 1943, after heroically maneuvering his B-25 Mitchell bomber so that two of his crewmates could parachute to safety.

McCook was born and raised in Georgetown, Texas, and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the 22nd Bombardment Squadron, 341st Bombardment Group, 10th Air Force.

The two crewmembers survived as prisoners of war, but McCook and three other crewmates perished when the aircraft subsequently crashed. McCook was listed as missing in action, but his unidentified remains were recovered and buried anonymously in 1947 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. However, the two survivors told the story of how McCook selflessly climbed to a higher altitude to give them a chance to escape while taking enemy ground fire.

As a result, McCook was listed as MIA for decades until 2024 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency utilized modern DNA technology to identify and confirm his remains. This brought long-sought resolution to his family, and recently, the Commemorative Air Force Highland Lakes Squadron and Devil Dog Squadron fulfilled their sacred duty to welcome home 1st Lt. Woody McCook.

Georgetown really turned out to welcome its native son’s return with a solemn procession coordinated by VFW Post 8587, with support from the city, Southwestern University, local veteran organizations and the CAF. Lining the procession route were 82 full-size flags, one for each year McCook had been missing, provided by the Georgetown Rotary Club’s Field of Honor Committee.

Overhead, Falcon Flight honored McCook with the poignant Missing Man Formation followed moments later by the rumbling roar of radial engines as CAF’s B-25 Devil Dog flew over the city in tribute.

Beyond just an organization that puts on airshows, the CAF preserves not only historic aircraft but also the stories of those who served aboard them. Lt. McCook’s homecoming was made possible by the dedication of CAF members like Bob Michie and Tom Horton, Ed Holley, Tina Bonorden, Dave Bachmann, Felicia Reynolds, Tim Reynolds, Rob Chalmers, Barbara Chalmers, Mike Jones, and other members of the Devil Dog Squadron.

Lt. McCook was laid to rest with full military honors, alongside his parents, at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Georgetown.

FMI:  commemorativeairforce.org/