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name
BRIDWELL, Clarence Edwin - Date of
birth
27 January 1917 -
Age
27 -
Place of birth
Marshfield, Webster County, Missouri -
Hometown
Freer, Duval County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-753978 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
848th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 November 1944 - Place of
death
Loitzingstrasse 2
Mannheim, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 27 | 54 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James C. Bridwell (father)
Jessie (Torrance) Bridwell (mother)
Frank F. Bridwell (brother)
James H. Bridwell (half-brother)
Joseph S. Bridwell (half-brother)
Ralph T. Bridwell (half-brother)
Elda I. (Green) Bridwell (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37884 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Penns Belle
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 10325
More information
1st Lt Clarene E. Bridwell graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in agriculture and was a petroleum engineer at the Bridwell Oil Company in Wichita Falls, Texas before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in San Antonio, Texas on 27 May 1942.2nd Lt Burton W. Ripnick:
One half of ship from lead struck just back of ball turret on Lt Bridwell’s ship which pulled out of formation to right in sharp dive. One chute only seen to open immediately.
S/Sgt Paul S. Finot:
I believe he was killed when other plane hit us. The other B-17 hit us at the radio room and slid forward.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Damaris Acevedo / 50thAIB, www.ancestry.com – U.S. School Yearbooks, www.newspapers.com – Wichita Falls Times - 2 November 1944