Clifford A. Ratliff was born on November 19, 1920, in Ethel, Missouri. He was the son of William Alfred Ratliff and Beulah Vaughn Lynch Ratliff.

Clifford served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-17 #43-37618 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on August 13, 1944, in Roydon, England, when his airplane crashed after a mid-air collision with B-17 #43-38051. The crash resulted in the death of seven members of his crew, while the other airplane had four casualties.

2Lt Ratliff is now buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Brookfield, Linn County, Missouri, USA.

Airmen who perished on B-17 #43-37618:
Bowling, Paul ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, CA
Bright, Arthur R ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, PA
Noblin, Charles R ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, VA
Ransom, Richard L ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Ratliff, Clifford A ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, KS
Terling, Patsy L ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, PA
Weaver, Crawford D ~ T/Sgt, Top Turret Gunner, LA

Source of information: www.findagrave.com