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Personal info

Full name
DURBIN, Clyde E
Date of birth
23 September 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Hometown
Canton, Stark County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
O-756517
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
49th Fighter Squadron,
14th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 July 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Vértessomló, Hungary

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 7 79

Immediate family

Members
Clarence A. Durbin (father)
Mabel (Baldwin) Durbin (mother)
Susan Durbin (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-28814
Data
Type: P-38J
Destination: Budapest, Hungary
Mission: Escort mission to Budapest
MACR: 6867

More information

2nd Lt Clyde E. Durbin joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, on 16 June 1942.

2nd Lt Richard R. Thompson:
"On 14 July 1944, on the mission to Budapest, Hungary, I was flying #2 position in Lt Schill’s flight. Lt Schill was leading the Squadron, and we had encountered a large formation of enemy aircraft. After breaking up the enemy formation, Lt Schill started to orbit to the right when another P-38 coming from below and nearly straight on collided with Lt Schill, clipping his right wing off his plane. Almost instantly, his plane burst into flame. Lt Durbin, who was flying #3 position in this same flight, did not return from this mission."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Mary Dessecker, www.archives.gov
– WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Durbin & Henry Families of Ohio, www.fold3.com, http://scarletboy44.tumblr.com/page/16
Photo source: Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 41-F, Kelly Field, Texas, www.ancestry.com – RM Crowl, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class 43-I, Luke Field, Arizona - Courtesy of Mr. Claiborne