Downen Clifford J.

Monuments

B-17 ‘The Passionate Witch’ & ‘Kickapoo Joy Juice’ Plaque

Name:

Clifford J. Downen

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-467177

Unit:

728th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-03-28

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, Franklin County, Illinois

Plot:

Section O

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Clifford J. Downen was born on October 31, 1917, in Christopher, Franklin County, Illinois. He was the son of James Virgil Downen and Della Thomas Downen. He was the husband of Billie R. Strunck Granneman.

Clifford graduated from the University of Missouri. He entered the US Army in 1942. At the time of his death, he was serving in the 728th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17 #42-97200 'Kickapoo Joy Juice' during World War II.

On March 28, 1944, his crew took off from Sation 142 airfield in Deopham Free, England, on a mission to bomb the Chateaudun airfield in France. Their plane was shot down by flak and crashed near Chāteaudun airfield. Four members were able to bail out before the crash but were taken as prisoners. Unfortunately, the rest who were unable to bail out were killed in this event, including 2Lt Downen.

2Lt Downen is now buried in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, Franklin County, Illinois, USA.

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