Claydon Howard W.

Name:

Howard W. Claydon

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

16084338

Unit:

861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-11-02

State:

Michigan

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium

Plot:

D

Row:

38

Grave:

12

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Howard W. Claydon was born on May 30, 1911, in Lancaster, New York. He was the son of William Claydon and Lena Helen Hoppenroth DeYoung. He was married to Marjorie M Squires Young.

Howard served in the 861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on the B-17 #44-8246 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on November 2, 1944, when his airplane was shot down by flak and crashed at Sommerda, Germany. Four crew members were Killed in Action, and seven were taken as prisoners.

TSgt Claydon is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

The crew that day was Capt Vernon Alexander Harry Graves, Dave First, Don Schuiman ex nav, Chas Mills, Salvatore Sciame, Harry Froese (7 Prisoner of War); Joe Saleski, Howard Claydon, Lt Bob Waggoner tg, Lt Col George Whitlock mission pilot (4 Killed in Action).

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