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name
HAMILTON, Clifford Bruce - Date of
birth
24 December 1907 -
Age
35 - Place of
birth
Nome, Nome Borough, Alaska -
Hometown
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1699500 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
335th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Kattenbos, three miles south of Lommel, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 7 | 36 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frederick A. Hamilton (father)
Louisa (Sincock) Hamilton (mother)
Richmond Hamilton (brother)
Frank P. Hamilton (brother)
Gladys R. (Wolfingarger) Hamilton (wife)
Clifford B. Hamilton, Jr. (son)
Judy Hamilton (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30194 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: We Ain't Scared
Destination: Wesseling, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 253
More information
Together with his brother Richmond, Clifford Hamilton joined the RAF as flight instructors before the U.S. got into the war. They were transferred to South Dakota to train in bombers and then shipped out to Horham, England.Statement by 1st Lt David E. Olsson, Asst Operations Officer:
"B-17F 42-30194, piloted by Captain Clifford B. Hamilton, was observed to have a windmilling propeller and about 51 degrees 8'N and 5 degrees 7 'E, he left the formation and went down to ground level to head back to the English Coast."
Enemy aircraft shot out the #4 engine. The airplane went out of control into a spin, and the left wing exploded. Of the 10-man crew, 5 were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of the airdrome of St. Trond, Belgium, on 14 August 1943.
It is believed by surviving crew members that Capt Hamilton bailed out but was shot or died of wounds before reaching the ground.
Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Raf Dyckmans, Steve Rima (grandson), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.95thbg.org, Peter Schouteten