Waite Clyde H.

Monuments

B-17 (42-102485) 'Bare Essentials' Crash Memorial- 388th Bomber Group

Name:

Clyde H. Waite

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

32580579

Unit:

562nd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1994-10-15

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Myrtle Cemetery, Poland, Chautauqua County, New York, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

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Comments:

Clyde H. Waite was born on May 25, 1921, in Jamestown, New York. He was the son of Tracy Henry Waite and Frances May Sparling Waite. He was married to Elsie L. Waite. He served in the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17 (42-102485) nicknamed 'Bare Essentials' during World War II.

On May 28, 1944, while on a mission to bomb Dessau, Germany, the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire (flak), causing a fire on board. Despite the crew’s efforts to control the situation, they were forced to crash-land near Groenekan in the Netherlands. Several crew members lost their lives, while the survivors were captured and taken as prisoners of war. During this period, the group carried out numerous strategic bombing missions across Europe.

TSgt Waite was among those captured and taken as a prisoner of war. He died on October 15, 1994, and is now buried in the Myrtle Cemetery, Poland, Chautauqua County, New York, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de