Clarence Harold Harper was born on November 24, 1923, in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. He was the son of George Washington Harper and Minnie Mathilda Ruske Harper. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 #43-38697 during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the B-17G 43-38697 was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17 42-97387, nicknamed "Maude An' Maria," from the 602nd Bomb Squadron of the same group. The collision occurred near Lehmke, Germany, resulting in the crash of both aircraft. Tragically, eight of the nine crew members aboard 43-38697 were killed in the collision, and only one survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

TSgt Harper was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Winneconne Village Cemetery, Winneconne, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, USA. Clarence H. Harper's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org