Clarence R Bateman

Military

Shot down 21 February 1944 in B-17 #42-3073 'Lightning Strikes', his 13th & last mission. Prisoner of War (POW) for 16 months. Participated in the 1945 Death March across Germany. Liberated by the British 4/30/45. Also flew 12 missions in plane 'Ramblin Wreck'. Continued in Air Force as career which included being part of the Special Missions Unit stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, MD. Was Flight Engineer.



POW

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William Francis Gibbons

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-802738
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Two B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (LL-A, serial number 42-3073), of the 91st Bomb Group, parked at Whitechurch with an RAF Spitfire and an AT-19 Reliant. September 1943. Image via Merle Olmstead. Written on reverse: 'Sept 1943.'

42-3073

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lightning Strikes
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Coyle, Oklahoma 10 January 1924

Died

4 May 1972

Buried

Midwest City, Oklahoma

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

21 February 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

 

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2463 / MACR 2463/daughter: D Zimmerman / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database