Clarence Cecil Hightshoe
Military"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.
See "Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor, for a detailed biography.
Assigned to the 384th Bomb Group at Grafton Underwood, Clarence flew twenty-nine combat missions. He was re-assigned as an instructor which prevented him from flying his last mission.
In late October, 1944, Clarence and another navigator were trained in a new method of dropping bombs based on radio beams. The GH Method. It meant that whatever Bomb Group in the Eighth would be leading a mission Clarence would fly in that lead airplane. The new method provided bombing accuracy in inclement weather particularly during the Battle of the Bulge when visual sighting was not possible. When Clarence completed his twenty-ninth mission the military changed his plans for going home. “The changed plan was that if he never flies his thirtieth mission we don’t have to send him home.” He was taken off combat duty and sent to the 305th BG at Chelveston to train navigators in the GH method of dropping bombs.
Post war he returned to college, won four track titles and did an MSc at the University of Iowa. He stayed in the reserves until he had 26 years service retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
DFC; Air Medal with 3 clusters
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35581546
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36166332
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-685154
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31373704
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flexible Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-814564
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bolo Babe
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Homesick Angel
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 September 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
9 January 2016 | Iowa city, Iowa | |
Iowa City, IA, USA |
Revisions
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
- www.457thbombgroup.org/roster/Hnames.html
Additional information from "Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.
AAIR 44-12-31-516 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…