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name
TAVENER, Clark A - Date of
birth
13 January 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Kern County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-757331 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
575th Bombardment Squadron,
391st Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
23 December 1944 - Place of
death
3 miles east of Ahrweiler, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert A. Tavener (father)
Juanita (Clark) Tavener (mother)
Audrey Tavener (adopted sister)
Dorothy M. (Reeves) Tavener (wife)
Alnita Tavener (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95932 -
Data
Type: B-26B
Nickname: Fifinella Dog
Destination: Ahrweiler, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad viaduct
MACR: 11551
More information
1st Lt Clark A. Tavener was a mail carrier before he joined the Regular Army in Bakersfield, California on 21 May 1942. He received his wings when he graduated as a second lieutenant from the Marfa, Texas, A.A.F. pilot school. Lt. Tavener was commissioned upon completion of his course in training in twin-engine planes.Upon completion of the second bomb run on the railroad viaduct at Ahrweiler, Germany, the formation was attacked by an estimated fifty to seventy-five FW-19Us and ME-109's. As a result, sixteen aircraft were missing in action, and the returning planes were badly battle-damaged.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Debeck Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - The Bakersfield Californian
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspaperarchive.com - Bakersfield Californian