Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
CLIFFORD, William Wallace - Date of
birth
7 September 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Jefferson County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-678174 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
8 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank L. Clifford (father)
Agnes J. (Offutt) Clifford (mother)
Thomas O. Clifford (brother)
John R. Clifford (brother)
Frank L. Clifford (brother)
Mary A. Clifford (sister)
Helen J. Clifford (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7470 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Exterminator
Destination: Vegesack, Germany
MACR: 879
More information
1st Lt Clifford was a graduate of St. Xavier High School and had been overseas for three months.The mission took place on 8 October 1943.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters in the vicinity of coast out, north of the target at Vegesack after the Group attacked this target. No German reports were available on the final situation regarding this crew and the Liberator. It could be concluded only that this aircrew went down just off shore into the North Sea waters, and never recovered.
Lt Clifford was declared officially dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Courier-Journal, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Yearbook Pampa Army Flying School - Class 43-d via Patricia van Casteren, Arie-Jan van Hees.