Donald James De Cleene

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-50391.jpeg UPL 50391 Donald James de Cleene

University of Illinois

Object Number - UPL 50391 - Donald James de Cleene

Killed when the B17 he was piloting crashed into Birchenough Hill near Wildboarclough in Cheshire. All five crew members on board died. The plane had been collected from Burtonwood and was destined for Nuthampstead. Don is buried in the American cemetery near Cambridge.

Air medal

Joined the 603rd on August 28th 1944 and was Co-Pilot to Kenneth S Hastings before becoming a pilot in his own right.

J. Gordon Blythe was his co-pilot on two missions at the end of December 1944. One to Blumenthal on the 31st. To Bischofsheim on the 30th.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Black and white portrait of Air Force TSGT. Howard F. Ayers in uniform
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18153933
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-723562
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-823285
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-31767) nicknamed "Our Gal Sal" of the 100th Bomb Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Our Gal Sal EP-E, 231767 at Mount Farm.'
  • Date: 31 December 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Oak Park, Illinois 7 February 1921

Died

Birchenough Hill near Wildboarclough Cheshire 2 January 1945

Revisions

Date30 Apr 2022 22:46:41
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

398th.org

Date12 Feb 2022 20:46:10
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

398th.org

Date12 Feb 2022 20:44:38
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

398th.org

Date12 Feb 2022 20:42:58
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to person associations
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398th.org

Date6 Jun 2021 14:37:15
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to media associations
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University of Illinois

Date6 Jun 2021 14:20:39
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to media associations
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398th

Date13 Jun 2020 20:27:46
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to place associations
Sources

Nuthampstead Air Museum

Date13 Jun 2020 20:09:06
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to biography, awards and person associations
Sources

Nuthampstead Air Museum

Date13 Jun 2020 19:51:28
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to person associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Nuthampstead Air Museum

Date11 Jun 2020 13:26:32
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to service number, biography, events and person associations
Sources

Nuthampstead Air Museum

Date6 Apr 2020 09:51:54
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

Nuthampstead air museum

Date6 Apr 2020 09:44:59
ContributorAmanda
ChangesChanges to surname, middlename and awards
Sources

Nuthampstead air museum

Date27 Sep 2014 18:07:34
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Combat Chronology; 398th History Vol II / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Donald James De Cleene: Gallery (1 items)