SSgt. Clarence Weckesser was the flight engineer and top turret gunner on the B-24D, named, Kickapoo, in the 9th Air force, the 98th Bomb Group, called "The Pyramiders", and the 344th Bomb Squadron out of Benghazi, Libya, in 1942 and 1943. He flew on, Operation Tidal Wave, to Ploesti, Romania, after being reassigned to fly on Col. John R. "Killer" Kane's Lead airplane, Hail Columbia, with his entire crew from, Kickapoo, including his pilot, Lt. John S. Young. His life was spared when, Kickapoo, lost an engine and crashed in flames taking off for the Ploesti mission, killing all but two of it's replacement crew.



SSgt. Weckesser and all of, Hail Columbia's, crew survived the Ploesti mission with minor injuries from flak splinters. SSgt. Weckesser received the Distinguished flying Cross for his contribution on Operation Tidal Wave, Aug 1, 1943.