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Morton Clyde N.

Name:
Clyde N. Morton
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
17044975
Unit:
557th Bomber Squadron, 387th Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1944-05-26
State:
Oklahoma
Cemetery:
Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, M
Plot:
26
Row:
Grave:
2246A
Decoration:
Comments:

SSgt Clyde N. Morton was the mechanic of the B-26 Marauder 42-96199 when it took off from station 162 Chipping Ongar, Essex UK on a mission to bomb Chartres’ airfield. Around 1755, just as the plane, part of the first bombing group, was starting its run, a flak barrage scored a direct hit on the No.2 engine. The latter plummeted free of the aircraft and landed near the town church. The plane itself went into a slow dive. The pilot dropped both 900 kg bombs in order to free the bay door for a potential bail out. The rest of the group thought it to be the attack signal and dropped theirs as well. The damage caused was enormous, killing about 50 civilians and setting the town library on fire. However, only half the crew had time to don their parachutes before the aircraft plummeted to the ground and SSgt Morton died. His body was buried by the locals.