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name
DREYER, Clem Joseph - Date of
birth
24 November 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana -
Hometown
Michigan, La Porte County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35094551 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
325th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 May 1944 - Place of
death
Denzig, 8 km SW of Kallies, Germany - These places are now know as Dębsko and Kalisz in Poland.
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 22 | 17 |
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37877 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Popcorn Fort
Destination: Cottbus, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf Aviation Industry
MACR: 5357
More information
Sgt. Clem J. Dreyer graduated from Elston High School.He enlisted from Indianapolis, Indiana on 22 February 1943.
Statement of 2nd Lt Herdman S. Porter, O-813057:
"Ship 877 was hit on first or second attack. A 20mm went through left wing, outboard of #1 engine. 877 flew in his position for about ten (10) minutes, then peeled off to the right, apparently under control.
About a minute after that, the left wing buckled and fire started at the trailing edge. A few seconds thereafter, the wing section broke off and the ship went into a steep spiral to the left out of control. Seven chutes were seen by my crew members."
Statement of 2nd Lt Harry Avery, pilot of A/C 42-37877:
"Our plane was hit by enemy fighter action, caught on fire and blew up on mid-air. After plane was hit I gave orders for men to put chutes on and bail out. The navigator and I saw two bodies on ground without chutes which evidently were blown out of plane. Our navigator recognized clothing on one of the bodies to be that of bombardier´s (2nd Lt Stewart). I believe that the other body was subject´s (S/Sgt Mc Ilroy)."
Clem J. Dreyer was last seen in the waist, ready to bail out. The centrifugal forces held him in the ship. He crashed with the plane.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com – MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.panoramio.com / Pawelm (plaque at crashsite), Gene McIlroy, Elston High School, 1943