Clare Leslie Wheeler was born on August 6, 1924, in Windsor, Dane County, Wisconsin. He was the son of Leslie Couillard Wheeler and Mable May Douglas Wheeler. A former DeForest High School athlete, he had captained the basketball team for two years before entering military service and had also been associated in business with his brother. He served in the 703rd Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-24 #42-110073 during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J Liberator serial number 42-110073 was lost during a combat mission over Germany while serving with the U.S. Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations. The aircraft was part of the American strategic bombing campaign targeting German industrial and military objectives when it encountered heavy enemy opposition, including fighter interception and anti-aircraft fire. During the intense aerial battle, the bomber was shot down and crashed in enemy-held territory, and its loss was officially documented in a U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report. The destruction of the aircraft occurred during one of the most dangerous phases of the air war over Germany, when American bomber formations regularly suffered severe losses while penetrating heavily defended airspace.

Sgt Wheeler was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Windsor Congregational Cemetery, Windsor, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.445bg.org