Because a man did not live I am writing this today. Because this man had a friend who told his granddaughter a story I am writing this today. Because this man's friend's granddaughter was raised to respect and honour those who went before her and had, over the years, developed a keen interest in the history of her grandfather's generation, I am writing this today.
My grandpa told me a story. A story about an old high school friend of his who did not live to see victory over the Axis during WWII. The story went something along these lines:
My grandpa told me a story. A story about an old high school friend of his who did not live to see victory over the Axis during WWII. The story went something along these lines:
Shorty was the ball turret gunner on a B-25 that went down in the English Channel due to engine failure. The rest of the crew managed to escape the plane. Shorty was unable to get out of the ball turret because the hydraulics which allowed the turret to rotate were damaged and dysfunctional. He went down with the plane.
Shorty's real name was Walter M. Clevenger. Rank Technical Sergeant. But there is more.
Grandpa's story is not the real story. It isn't overly surprising really, because at the time Shorty died, Grandpa was quite likely in basic himself and as things get passed along a grapevine, the story often morphs.
Last night, I found the truth. Accidentally. I cannot remember the course of events that led me to revisit Shorty, but in doing so, I stumbled upon the truth.
Shorty was in the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, stationed in England. He was one of ten crewmen on a B-17F, the "Yahoodi"--AAF serial #41-24608. He wasn't the ball turret gunner--that was a fellow by the name of S/Sgt. Leif H. Hoklin who did survive. Rather, Shorty was the radio operator.
Two days before, on January 1, 1943, Shorty had turned 21. On January 3rd, while on a bombing run (the target of which was St. Nazaire, France), whether to or from I do not know, the Yahoodi took enemy fire and was hit. Using the coordinates found in the records, I discovered that they went down in the sea south of Brittany. The records aren't overly profuse or informative, but enough to paint a picture of an ack-ack attack, engines knocked out, and a crew of ten headed straight into the ocean, the wind whistling through the fuselage. I wonder how many of them were already dead. Or how terrified they were.
Grandpa's story is not the real story. It isn't overly surprising really, because at the time Shorty died, Grandpa was quite likely in basic himself and as things get passed along a grapevine, the story often morphs.
Last night, I found the truth. Accidentally. I cannot remember the course of events that led me to revisit Shorty, but in doing so, I stumbled upon the truth.
Shorty was in the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, stationed in England. He was one of ten crewmen on a B-17F, the "Yahoodi"--AAF serial #41-24608. He wasn't the ball turret gunner--that was a fellow by the name of S/Sgt. Leif H. Hoklin who did survive. Rather, Shorty was the radio operator.
Two days before, on January 1, 1943, Shorty had turned 21. On January 3rd, while on a bombing run (the target of which was St. Nazaire, France), whether to or from I do not know, the Yahoodi took enemy fire and was hit. Using the coordinates found in the records, I discovered that they went down in the sea south of Brittany. The records aren't overly profuse or informative, but enough to paint a picture of an ack-ack attack, engines knocked out, and a crew of ten headed straight into the ocean, the wind whistling through the fuselage. I wonder how many of them were already dead. Or how terrified they were.
I know the picture isn't very big...or very clear, but thanks to someone else's research I know the identity of a couple of the men. Shorty I guessed correctly before I found proof. He's second from left in the front. The rest of the crew are as follows: 1st Lt. Frank A. Saunders (Pilot; POW), 2nd Lt. Leonard W. Kirk (Co-Pilot; KIA; second from left, back row); 2nd Lt. Oscar F. Forester (Navigator; POW); 2nd Lt. Norman Kossis (Bombardier; KIA; far right, back row); S/Sgt. Llyod E. Wagner (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; KIA; third from right, front row); Sgt. Rufus C. Litton (Left Waist Gunner; KIA); S/Sgt. Russell O. Chitwood (Right Waist Gunner; KIA); S/Sgt. Leif H. Hoklin (Ball Turret Gunner; POW), and Sgt. Howard A. High (Tail Gunner; KIA).
Shorty, age 21, died during that bombing run on January 3rd, 1943. He wasn't married. I don't even know if he had a girlfriend. He died and I never knew him--but he is not forgotten. He may have never had any children...but I'll stand in for those unborn children and grandchildren and claim him as one of my own. This is for Shorty.
Because T/Sgt. Walter M. Clevenger did not live I write this. I will someday tell my own children about him so that he will not be forgotten.
In Memoriam,
Because T/Sgt. Walter M. Clevenger did not live I write this. I will someday tell my own children about him so that he will not be forgotten.
In Memoriam,
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