Donald James DeCleene

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

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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

7 February 1921

Died

2 January 1945

Revisions

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Fold3 

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398th.org

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398th.org

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398th.org

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398th.org

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University of Illinois

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398th

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Nuthampstead Air Museum

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Nuthampstead Air Museum

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Nuthampstead Air Museum

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Nuthampstead Air Museum

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Nuthampstead air museum

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Nuthampstead air museum

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

Donald James DeCleene: Gallery (1 items)