media-38698.jpeg UPL 38698 Lt. Clifford E. Carter of Los Angeles, CA, enlisted in LA on 10 March 1942. Credited with destroying four enemy aircraft, he flew with the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from April 1943 through 8 April 1944 when he was KIA. Last seen near Bohmte while flying a strafing mission with "Bill's Buzz Boys", and though later heard on the radio, he failed to return.

"Bill's Buzz Boys: During the early part of March 1944 Headquarters Eighth Air Force sent a request to all fighter groups under the command for volunteers to form a special strafing squadron. Among the names turned in from the 359th Fighter Group were Captain Ettlesen, Lieutenant Carter, Lieutenant Thacker, and Lieutenant Oliphint, all from the 369th Fighter Squadron. On March 17 these four officers were ordered to report to Colonel Glenn E. Duncan, Commanding Officer, 353rd Fighter Group, with their P-47 planes and crews. On March 18 the squadron was formed. It was comprised of four flights, one from each of the following Fighter Groups: 353rd, 355th, 359th and 371st, and placed under the command of Captain Ettlesen.

"At a meeting on the 19th of March the reason for the squadron being organized was revealed and was as follows: The Germans, in hopes of conserving his Fighter strength for the invasion of Europe, were refusing to give battle to day bombers except under the most favorable circumstances. In order to insure the success of the invasion, the Eighth Air Force had as its objective the destruction of the Luftwaffe. The German Air Force was not to be found in the air, and therefore had to be sought out and destroyed on the ground at its airdromes. Several Fighter Groups had tried attacking airdromes with little or no success. It was up to this squadron to discover a means of attacking airdromes that would insure success, yet cut casualties to the minimum." ~ Excerpts from Bill's Buzz Boys by Charles C. Ettlesen.
359th Fighter Group collection

Photo courtesy Paul D. Bruns.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.