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GITTINS, Clarence Elmore - Date of
birth
18 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan -
Hometown
Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas -
Religion
Protestant
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-812975 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 July 1944 - Place of
death
Northwest of Perlé, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 11 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence E. Gittins (father)
Lois F. (Goldsmith) Gittins (mother)
Marilyn E. Gittins (sister)
Annette Gittins (sister)
Robert B. Gittins (brother)
Katherine D. (Knight) Gittins (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31917 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Off Spring
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a marshalling yard, an aircraft engine factory and an airfield
MACR: 7507
More information
Clarence Gittins was a widely-known boy soprano and at one time was a choir member at the St. Joseph's Episcopal choirs in Detroit and later at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York. He had been singing since he was nine years old. His father was formerly mayor of Highland Park and at one time State Senator. His father was killed in an automobile accident in 1935. His mother was also killed in an automobile accident in 1939.Clarence Gittins was married to Katherine Davidson Knight on 21 January 1944.
The B-17 with serial number 42-31917 was caught in the prop wash of the preceding aircraft, causing it to nose up and collide with B-17 #42-102606. Upon impact, #42-31917 broke in two at the waist gun positions and was last seen falling through the undercast.
One crew member survived and was taken prisoner, nine men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.missinginaction.be, www.ancestry.com - Marriage Index, www.newspapers.com - Detroit Free Press
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - Detroit Free Press