Sidney M. McClenaghan was born in June 1924. He resided in St. Louis County, Minnesota prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 17, 1942 in Sacramento, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Driver and also as Single, without dependents. Sidney served as a Corporal and Gunner on B-24L #44-41448, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24L #44-41448 took off from Luliang, China on a night ship bombing mission over Tonkin Gulf, French Indo-China (Vietnam). They were hit by Japanese ship mounted anti-aircraft fire and, while trying to return to base, ended up crashing into the sea off Ka-pao Island during the war. Sidney was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Sidney was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China. but his name is inscribed as Sidney K. McClenghan.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov