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Lt Clifford Bartlett graduated from West High School in 1938 and attended New Hampshire School of Accounting and Finance. He also worked as a clerk at the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Manchester, New Hampshire, on 20 August 1942. He was sent overseas in May 1944 and completed forty missions before his final flight.

Leslie Brown of Derry, NH, a WWII veteran himself, said these words about his childhood friend: "Clifford was a very small, petite boy. We called him "Bunny Bartlett" because of his size. He was a very active member of our group of neighborhood friends. We enjoyed playing baseball and football."

Bad weather caused the attack to be diverted to Cologne & Dortmund.

He dropped his tanks and entered a tight downward spiral from 30,000 feet near Tirlemont in Belgium. The pilot failed to bail out of his fighter before it hit the ground.

Statement of Eugene Britton, 1st Lt Air Corps:
"On October 5, 1944, 2nd Lt Clifford L. Bartlett was flying Yellow two position in my flight. He was a little behind and to the left of the flight when he started a slight dive, which I thought was to catch up. He continued to lose altitude until he was about 1,000 feet below, at 9 o'clock. At this time, Lt Bartlett started to climb steeply and appeared to start a roll. He dropped his tanks as he was practically in a stall attitude and halfway on his back. I called him and asked if he was alright. He answered, saying, 'No, I'm having trouble.' Then he started a dive turn into the overcast, which was at 29,000 feet. My number three man and I tried to follow him, but the overcast was too dense. I called him several times but received no answer. The overcast ended about 20 miles further on our course. I was flying at about 200 mph when Lt Bartlett started his dive to catch up. Thus, he must have been traveling at least 250 to 300 mph. Indicated, at 30,000 feet, to catch up, putting a strain on the airplane."

Lt Bartlett was first buried at Henri-Chapelle on 5 October 1944. He was disinterred on 15 October 1947, and his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 15 October 1947. He was given his final resting place on 14 July 1948.