William Robert Clift was born on November 21, 1921, in Soddy, Tennessee. He was married to Birdie Lee Gann Welch.
William served in the 549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-37963 during World War II. On February 21, 1944, bombers were returning to the 385th Bomber Group's base at Great Ashfield, England, from a raid on targets in Germany. The pilot lost control of the plane in the clouds. He collided with another aircraft (B-17 #42-31370) in the formation; a bomber from the 550th Bomb Squadron. Both aircraft crashed into the marshes at Reedham, and all of the crew members of both airplanes were killed.
TSgt Clift is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Clift William Robert
Name:
William Robert Clift
Rank:
Technical Sergeant
Serial Number:
14134324
Unit:
549th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-02-21
State:
Tennessee
Cemetery:
Cambridge American Cemetery, United Kingdom
Plot:
A
Row:
7
Grave:
17
Decoration:
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Comments: