Clifton Rozelle Freeman

Military
media-53664.jpeg UPL 53664 Lt. Clifton Freeman's crew.

Back row, left to right: S/Sgt Kenneth Grothouse, bombardier;, Lt. Clifton Freeman, pilot; Lt. Hoy Bonnet, co-pilot; Cpt. Welburn, photographer.
Front Row: S/Sgt. James Ley engineer/gunner; Sgt. Lath, tail gunner; Sgt. George Luke, radio operator.

Welburn and Lath were not part of the crew on the day that Freeman's crew was shot down. On that day, Sgt. John Smith was the tail gunner, and Lt. John Smith was the photographer.

Identifications provided in a letter from Lt. Freeman's mother to the mother of James Ley dated November 24, 1944, as part of the James Ley Collection at Grinnell College: https://digital.grinnell.edu/islandora/object/grinnell:jimmy-ley

From Tim Ley, nephew of James Ley

Object Number - UPL 53664 - Lt. Clifton Freeman's crew. Back row, left to right: S/Sgt Kenneth Grothouse, bombardier;, Lt. Clifton Freeman, pilot; Lt. Hoy Bonnet, co-pilot;...

Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Ray-Sur-Authie, FR 29-Feb-44; hit by flak stbd engine feathered dropped out of formation salvoed bombs, Crashed Abbeville, FR Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 2455



Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), PH.

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
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-450443) of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force releases bombs during a mission.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18045325 / O-664504
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15084995
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17105972
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35385508
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 4th Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit
  • Service Numbers: O-560349
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Photographer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Denalis Cheechakoo
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 451st Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Summit County, OH 10 June 1923 Son of John C and Anna Lee Freeman. Born Virginia ?? Entered service Summit County, Ohio

Enlisted

Cleveland, OH 30 March 1942 Cleveland, Ohio

Died

Abbeville, France 29 February 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Ray-Sur-Authie, FR 29-Feb-44 in B-26 41-34856; crashed Abbeville, FR KIA MACR 2455

Buried

Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery Doylestown, Wayne County, OH Re-Interred Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio

Based

Andrews Field 29 February 1944 Assigned to 451BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.
Barberton, OH

Clifton Rozelle Freeman: Gallery (1 items)