Herbert Walter Claxton

Military
media-52549.jpeg UPL 52549 2nd Lt Herbert W Claxton. 401BG

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 52549 - 2nd Lt Herbert W Claxton. 401BG

Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 27 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux in B-17 42-31315 'Liberty Run', on 19-Jun-44; flak shot off the tail, A/C ditched in Bay of Biscay. Interned (INT) in Spain.



Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13078848 / O-807624
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18082882 / O-693301
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Betty's Revenge
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Liberty Run
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shade Ruff #2
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lakewood, NJ 24 March 1922 Son of Walter Underwood and Catherine Yale [Kelsey] Claxton.

Enlisted

New York City, NY 8 July 1942 New York City, New York

Other

Interned (INT)

Spain 19 June 1944 - 4 July 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux in B-17 42-31315 'Liberty Run', on 19-Jun-44; flak shot off the tail, A/C ditched in Bay of Biscay. Interned (INT) in Spain.

Other

Discharged USAAF

12 July 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

Largo, FL 21 January 1997
Ocean County, NJ

Based

Deenethorpe Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Herbert Walter Claxton: Gallery (1 items)