Clayton Sexton Balcombe
MilitaryRear L-R: Lt George V Stallings, 1Lt Keith O Bartlett, Lewis E Lyle, Lt Milton S Fonorow, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Percy C Young.
Front L-R: S/Sgt Clayton S Balcombe, T/Sgt Gene K Smith, T/Sgt Frederick A Hartung, S/Sgt Tom McGiffin, S/Sgt Edward A Bradford, S/Sgt Robert H Sangster, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith.
6-Mar-42 Assigned as Radio Operator on B-17 41-24559 [PU-C] "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer".
31-Mar-42 While serving as Radio Operator on B-17 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS about an hour after take off in 10/10 cloud cover over Wellingboro, UK. "Ooold Soljer" was completely demolished and was seen to have lost its right wing from the #4 engine. TSGT Balcombe was severely injured in the collision and managed to bail out of the aircraft along with RWG SGT Tom McGriffin. The remaining 8 airmen were killed in the crash. Three airmen managed to bailed out of "Two Beauts" with 7 others killed.
From 31-Mar-43 until 6-Jun-44 TSGT Balcombe was in hospital for a time and then had a period of recovery from his injuries. He returned to combat duty on 6-Jun-44 and flew another 12 credited missions completing a 30-Mission tour on 22-Jun-44.
Mission participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
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: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-791048
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
- Date: 12 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cosmopolis, WA | 21 January 1923 | Son of Maude Balcombe. |
Enlisted |
Seattle, WA | 11 December 1941 | Seattle, Washington |
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA | 6 March 1942 | Assigned as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS. |
Other Mission #1, SGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #2, SGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #3, SGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 6 December 1942 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
Other Promotion to SSGT |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 January 1943 | Effective 1-Jan-43, promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. |
Other Mission #4, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #5, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #6, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #7, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshave, Germany. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #8, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
2 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe cold and weather forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. | |
Other Mission #9, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures force the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #10, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany but severe weather force Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #11, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #12, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port facilities and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #13, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #14, SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
Other Promoted in Rank |
8 March 1943 | Promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant. | |
Other Mission #15, TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #16, TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #17, TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #18, TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
Other Mission #19, TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe, W/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Injured |
31 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustaiend a mid-air collision with another B-17 of 358BS. He was able to bale out but was seriously injured. | |
Other In Hospital |
Leicester, UK | 31 March 1943 - 1 June 1944 | Remains in Hospital to recover from his injuries. Returned to Duty RTD and flew another 12 missions to complete a 30-mission tour. |
Died |
20 April 2000 | ||
Buried |
Oak Hill Memorial Park Escondido, San Diego County, CA | 23 April 2014 | Oak Hill Memorial Park Escondido, San Diego County, California |
Revisions
Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "severely" was misspelled.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added In Hospital event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #19 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #18 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-43. Added Promotion in Rank to TSGT per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016 Made connections to Missions of 27-Jan-42, 2-Feb-43, 4-Feb-43, 14-Feb-43, 16-Feb-43, 27-Feb-43, 4-Mar-43, 6-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43,13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-43 pere 303BG wesbite, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Promotion to SSGT event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Lewis E. Lyle crwe page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Lewis E. Lyle crwe page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added New Person entry; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43) and MIssions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E. Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html