Clarence Lewis Thacker

Military
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane. Four men standing to the rear and five men sitting in front on top of large canvas bags. The men are wearing cold-weather flying gear UPL 66544 UPL 66544 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews/3 April 1945, Kiel (Dry Docks).
Back L-R: 1st Lt. Jack McCaine (MN), 2nd Lt. John Pylman (N), 2nd Lt. Donald Funk (P), Maj. Clarence Thacker (AC/CP), F/O Robert Ward (N).
Front L-R: 1st Lt. Lambert Muller-Thym (B), F/O William O’Leary (OBS/TG), TSgt. Roman Soto (RO), TSgt. Gordon Robb (TT). 384th Bomb Group collection

The Quentin Bland Collection.  https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/35742/search/8882

547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 8th Air Force 924 44-8541 Grafton Underwood Jack Mezick McCaine John H Pylman Donald Olsen Funk Clarence Lewis Thacker Robert C Ward Lambert Muller-Thym William Joseph O'Leary Roman S Soto Gordon Lee Robb On

Object Number - UPL 66544 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews/3 April 1945, Kiel (Dry Docks). Back L-R: 1st Lt. Jack McCaine (MN), 2nd Lt. John Pylman (N), 2nd Lt. Donald Funk (P),...

Raised in Kissimmee Florida, Parents Omer S. Thacker and Jesse Wilder, Both Attorneys in Kissimmee Fl.

Clarence Thacker Flew "Kissy-Me-Cowboy" #41-24473 originally named the "Exterminator" but he renamed when it was transferred to the 97th BG/414th SQ/ 1942.

He was the pilot of 41-9103, one of 12 B-17s which flew on Mission #1, 17 August 1942 to Rouen, France from Grafton Underwood, UK.

He was promoted to Commander and transferred to the 384th BG/547th Unit, 41st Wing, Group C and B. He flew B-17's such as "Bat out of Hell", among many others. He also Flew B-17 'Dixie Demo' with 97th BG in the 8th Air Force.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William T Abare

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-776206
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Charles R Abbott

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-929523
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Edward W Abbott

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-692625
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot/Pilot
This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942. This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG).

James M Abbott

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

William H Abbott

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-825072
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-24473

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kissy-Me-Kowboy
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group fly B-17 (serial number 41-9103) nicknamed "Dixie Demo", at Bassingbourn following a raid on Antwerp, 6 April 1943. A censor has obscured a hanger in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 6 APR 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 6 APR 1943 INTLD 29 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp]. 'Copyright Planet News ?, Johnson's Court, London E.C.4' [stamp].'256834'[Censor

41-9103

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dixie Demo
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to biography. Changes to Media. Changes to Media
Sources

Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
ChangesChanges to service number, highest rank, biography, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Venit Hora: The Hour Has Come, Thomas F. Gulley, page 249;
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to nickname
Sources

Added "Possible DUPLICATE" in the nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.

Date
Contributor[email protected]
ChangesCreated entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nickname, highest rank, role, biography, person associations and unit associations
Sources

Sortie Reports, Newspaper clippings, Family history, online history data base, 97th BG Rudolf Flack FB Page, Book- 97th BG-Venit Hora-The Hour Has Come. many other sites.

Clarence Lewis Thacker: Gallery (2 items)