Wallace C Clay

Military
media-16036.jpeg UPL 16036 Crew #423 & #539
Wallace C. Clay Crew
466th BG - 784th and 785th Bomb Squadrons

Standing Left to Right: Wallace C. Clay (P), James L. Bruner (CP), George A. Burke (N), Paul W. Beam (B), Leonard Long (FE)

Kneeling Left to Right: Ed Burnett (G), Glenn Taylor (G), George Berens (G), William Summerville (G), Willis Ray (R/O) 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 16036 - Crew #423 & #539 Wallace C. Clay Crew 466th BG - 784th and 785th Bomb Squadrons Standing Left to Right: Wallace C. Clay (P), James L. Bruner...

Crew 419.



Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37267798
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-761034
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Warchamp
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-94979) nicknamed "Slick Chick" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '466 BG, Slick Chick, 42-94979 F 43, 128 Misns, Per Crew Chief John Doskocz, 785th A443F.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Slick Chick
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lambert, MS, USA 27 December 1919

Died

5 December 2011 Wallace C. Clay, age 91, formerly of Oak Brook, WWII US AF Veteran, passed away peacefully on Dec. 5, 2011, beloved husband of the late Kay Clay; dear father of Dr. Jeffrey Clay, Buddy Christiansen and Pamela Jones; loving grandfather of Alvin and Janice Jones; great-grandfather of Abigail Jones; brother of late Dewy Clay, Eva Efferson, Elsie Ray and Mattie Clinton. He was born in Lambert, MS on Dec. 27, 1919. As a young boy, he built his own radios and became interested in flying when an early aviator gave him a ride in Lambert. During WWII, he built the Liberty ships and after enlisting he was quickly promoted to a 1st Lieutenant in the 2135th Army Air Forces Base Unit. He was a pilot of the B-24 bomber which flew air offensive in Europe, Normandy and Northern France. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and three Bronze Stars. After the war, he worked for 20 years at Zenith Radio Corporation in the Military Special Products where he designed the first walkie-talkie radio, proximity fuses and digital pagers. Later, he started his own engineering corporation and worked with his wife Kay in her businesses. Visitation at Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 567 S. Spring Rd., Elmhurst from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. Interment at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery. Info 630-834-3515 or www.ahlgrim.com. Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Dec. 9, 2011 Share Remember Share a message or photo below Restore the guest book Please restore the Guest Book to share in the life story for WALLACE C. CLAY The guest book is expired What will you miss most about WALLACE C. CLAY? Resources Send Funeral Flowers View Funeral Home Details Donate to Charity How To Submit An Obituary Find Advice and Support Funeral Etiquette Sympathy and Condolence Advice Grief Support Groups Myths About Grief Go back to today's Obituaries for Chicago Tribune Back to today's Obituaries - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?pid=154954201#sthash.iwoaxhEN.dpuf

Buried

Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA 8 December 2011 Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery
New Orleans, LA, USA 1005 North Hagen St

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian
legacy.com

Date
Contributorjamesbruner
Changes
Sources

Lt. Clay served with my father, James Lyman Bruner.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom and Brassfield, page 344

Wallace C Clay: Gallery (2 items)