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Clayton Robert Christiansen of the 388th Bomb Group
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Holy Smokes Crew
Front Row Pilot, Bernard Kellenyi, Co-pilot Frank Zerbe, Navigator Ed Magee, Bombardier Norman Roesenthal. Back Row Waist Gunner Tony Siano, Tail Gunner Clayton Christiansen, Engineer Loy Knowles, Waist Gunner Stanley Schum, Radio Oper. Clarence Harris, Ball Turret Harold Barry
Clayton Robert Christiansen went by the name Bob or his initials C.R. most of his life. He had 2 older
Sisters Doris and Lois. After serving in the Air Force he returned to his then hometown of McHenry ND where his father ran the gas station. Bob married Therese Annette Fadness on June 22, 1947. They raised their family there while he ran the gas station and bulk delivery to farmers and home fuel systems. Children are Beth, Robert, Joan, Becky (died shortly after birth) Russell Jerome Jill John and and adopted daughter from Korea An Sook.
Bob was very active in his community serving on the church council, school board, and organizing community events.
Bob had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke and he played a few practical jokes in his day. He also cared deeply for others who struggled and helped many people in the community both financially and with his time. He was a regular attendee of AA starting in 1952 and helped many people with their struggle with alcohol.
Bob paid for all of his children to attend college with his own money.
In the early 70s Bob and Therese started square dancing. They were soon teaching and calling and square dancing events many night a week including round dancing and clogging.
Bob and Therese has a terrible car accident on Dec 8 1996 leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Bob died from natural causes with his wife Therese present in Cooperstown ND.
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 21/5/44; Kearney 5/6/44; Grenier 17/6/44; Assigned 413BS/96BG Snetterton 19/6/44; transferred 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/6/44; battle damaged Berlin 5 December 1944 with Kenneth O. Burkheimer. Force-landed in Knokke, Belgium. 9 RTD....
Missions
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18 July 1944
Flew an easy one over Denmark to Germany. Only had one hours sleep between yesterday and today.
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24 July 1944
Bombed enemy troop concentrations and thus assisted the Allied breakthrough at St. Lo. About 1500 planes of US went to St. Lo in Cherbourg. We came back with our bombs. Couldn't find the target.
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25 July 1944
Same target as yesterday but we hit the target this time. Took off in afternoon for another mission. After flying for 3 hours in dense overcast, the mission was scrubbed.
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31 July 1944
Flak knocked out #2 engine, the interphone system, the VHF plus other damages. We got back to the base before the formation.
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Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
Knettishall was built to Class A standard for an American Bomb Group that would be bringing up to forty heavy bombers with them in three or four Squadrons. The 388th Bomb Group, which stayed at Knettishall for their entire service in the ETO, flew B-17...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Juanita, North Dakota |
25 December 1921 |
Parents Alma Tams Christiansen and Paul Christiansen
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Enlisted |
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2 October 1942 |
Based |
Knettishall |
1944 – 1944 |
Assigned to 560BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF.
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Discharged USAAF |
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27 May 1945 |
Honourable discharge.
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Died |
Cooperstown, ND |
10 September 1999 |
Bob and Therese has a terrible car accident on 8-Dec-96 leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Bob died from natural causes with his wife Therese present in Cooperstown ND.
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Buried |
Bethlehem Cemetery
Eddy County, ND |
13 September 1999 |
Bethlehem Cemetery
Eddy County,
North Dakota
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