Wilbert L Clifford (1922 - 1943)

Born 1922 in Washington

Died 2 Aug 1943 at about age 21 in Ionian Sea

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Biography

Wilbert Clifford was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Wilbert Clifford was awarded the Purple Heart.

Wilbert Clifford was awarded the Air Medal.

Sergeant Wilbert Clifford served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 5 Jan 1942
Unit(s): 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 1 Aug 1943

Sergeant Wilbert Clifford was Killed in Action when shot down by Axis fighters over the Ionian Sea returning from Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.

He was born in Washington.

He passed away on 1 August 1943 when the B-24 Bomber, 'Hare's To Ya' 'Jo-Jo'S Special Delivery', was intercepted by Axis fighters off Kefalonia, Greece and presumed downed over the Ionian Sea. Wilbert was the Top Turret Gunner for the bomber as part of Operation Tidal Wave a low level bombing mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

• 1930 - Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States.^[1]
• 1940 - Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States.^[2]

Find A Grave: Memorial #55903195

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCQQ-TTW : accessed 20 January 2021), Wilbert L Clifford in household of Thomas W Clifford, Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 26, sheet 13B, line 55, family 203, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2515; FHL microfilm 2,342,249.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K93V-6H6 : 6 January 2021), Wilbert Clifford in household of Thomas W Clifford, Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 41-61, sheet 2B, line 60, family 39, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4386.

• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GX-N9F : 5 December 2014), Wilbert L Clifford, enlisted 05 Jan 1942, Spokane, Washington, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• Official List, Overseas Casualties - Prisoners, Spokane Chronicle, Spokane, Washington, 30 Aug 1943, Mon • Page 17
• PLOESTI RAIDERS GET HIGH AWARDS, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington, 17 Nov 1943, Wed • Page 1
• RETREAT HONORS SPOKANE HEROES. The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington, 31 Dec 1943, Fri • Page 1
• KILLED FIGHTING, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington, 19 Nov 1944, Sun • Page 20
• American Air Museum in Britain - Wilbert L Clifford
• American Battle Monument Commission- Wilbert L Clifford