Clarence S Coomes

Military
Staff Sergeant Clarence S. Commes of the 303rd Bomb Group, examines the machine-gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'When we asked S/Sgt Clarence S. Commes of 3612, Bret Hark Court, Sacramento, California, what he did in private life he answered "Whatever I could find to do." Today with the U.S. Air Force in Britain he has a man-size job as a gunner who has taken part in 16 raids. For this he has been awarded the Air Medal and 2 clusters. Aged 25 media-407566.jpg FRE 4188 Staff Sergeant Clarence S. Commes of the 303rd Bomb Group, examines the machine-gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'When we asked S/Sgt Clarence S. Commes of 3612, Bret Hark Court, Sacramento, California, what he did in private life he answered "Whatever I could find to do." Today with the U.S. Air Force in Britain he has a man-size job as a gunner who has taken part in 16 raids. For this he has been awarded the Air Medal and 2 clusters. Aged 25 he sends this message to his parents in Sacramento: "Having a nice time in England." U.64. Not to be published before 20th April 1943.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4188 - Staff Sergeant Clarence S. Commes of the 303rd Bomb Group, examines the machine-gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943....

1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigned to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Memphis Tot"



Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: S For Sugar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 1 May 1942 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.

Other

Re-Assigned to Aircraft

Bangor, ME, USA 12 October 1942 Re-assigned as a Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 22 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as a Waist Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.

Other

Mission #1, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, Frnace. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #8, SSGT Clarence S. Coomes, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe cold and weather force Wing Command to recall the formation.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Re-Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment , re-assigment and arrival in UK info to Summary Biography,; Made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 4-Feb-43) and Missions (through 4-Feb-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster

Clarence S Coomes: Gallery (1 items)