Word Clinton Scott, Jr.

Monuments

B-17 Fortress 'Touch The Button Nell II' (42-381170) Memorial

Name:

Clinton Scott, Jr. Word

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

38385876

Unit:

535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1972-10-13

State:

Louisiana

Cemetery:

Start Cemetery, Start, Richland Parish, Louisiana, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Clinton Scott Word, Jr. was born on November 9, 1920, in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. He was the son of Clinton Scott Word and Alma Alsbrooks Word. He was the husband of Ethel Gainey Word.

Clinton Jr. served in the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 Fortress #42-38117 "Touch The Button Nell II" during World War II.

On July 4, 1944, his crew took off from Station 167 Airfield in Ridgewell, England, on a bombing mission to Pont de la Riche, Tours, France. At 08:14h, due to technical problems with two engines after the bomb release, the airplane was partially evacuated at a very low altitude and crashed in the commune of Persac. The incident resulted in the deaths of seven crew members, only two survived. TSgt Word was one of the survivors.

After the war, Edward became a pastor of West New Home Baptist Church north of Holly Ridge. He died on October 13, 1972, at the age of 51, after an apparent heart attack.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net