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name
PLANTS, Clyde Stanley Jr - Date of
birth
12 July 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Claysville, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33920754 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner/Assistant Radio Operator -
Unit
346th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 December 1944 - Place of
death
Between Teichen and Rehwalden, about 8 miles southeast of Cosel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 12 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clyde S. Plants (father)
Grace F. (Allum) Plants (mother)
Donald E. Plants (brother)
Kenneth W. Plants (brother)
Dorothy Plants (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6663 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Operational bombing
MACR: 10939
More information
Sgt Clyde S. Plants graduated from Claysville High School with the class of 1944, although in service at the time.He enlisted in February 1944. He was sent overseas in November 1944.
Statement of James H. Jackson: "I was flying in position number one, in ship number 729, as aerial engineer, on 26 December 1944. Just after we closed our bomb doors, I noticed ship number 663 had number two engine on fire. At that time, I saw one parachute leave the airplane, which I believe was the tail gunner. Ship 663 pulled out away from the formation and the pilot seemed to be pulling the nose up and down to stop the fire. The fire stopped once or twice for a few seconds. After the number two engine of 663 had been on fire for three or four minutes, I saw ship 663 nose down and the tail twisted off about even with the waist windows and two more of the crew members jumped and the parachutes opened. I watched 663 until it hit the ground and exploded."
Source of information: FOHF, Terry Hirsch, www.findagrave.com - Angie, www.fold3.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - carolefratto1