Harry Clay May, Jr. was born November 13, 1922 in Broughton, Kansas. His parents were Harry C. May Sr. and Edith (Wait) May. His mother died when he was two-and-a-half years old.

His maternal grandmother cared for May and his three sisters until Harry Sr. remarried in 1926. Maude Fink, a widow with two sons, became a mother to the May children. The blended family grew to ten children.

The May family moved to Codell, Kansas in 1936. May graduated from Codell High School in 1940. He was affectionately known as “Harry Dee”.

May graduated from a Mechanical School in Hutchinson, Kansas. He then took a job in Bridgeport, Connecticut working for Aluminum Co. of America.

In September 1942, May enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He trained at Brady, Greenville and Eagle Pass, Texas. After sixteen months, he received his Silver Wings and the rank of First Lieutenant in San Antonio.

1LT May was deployed to the European Theater of Operations during WW2 with the 314th Fighter Squadron. Squadron 314 flew the P-47 Thunderbolt. 1LT May earned the responsibility of flight leader while logging over 100 missions.

Initially 1LT May was based in Italy. He then moved to the island of Corsica, known as USS Corsica because of the number of airfields. Squadron 314 was moved to France as the country was liberated.

On March 23, 1945 while leading a combat mission over Germany, May was lost.

According to Natoma Independent the following message was sent to the family from the Chaplain of the 324th Fighter Squadron. "There never was a better boy in any group than Lt. Harry C. May, Jr. and he was without doubt a credit to his God, his country and to his home in which he was reared."

1LT Harry Clay May, Jr. was initially interred in a civilian cemetery in Dettenheim, Germany. He was later interred in a military cemetery in the St. Arvold region near Metz, France. He was interred in Luray Cemetery in Luray, Kansas on August 30, 1949.

1LT May was awarded the Air Medal, eight Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart.

References

"Completes Primary Training", Natoma Independent – September 16, 1943, p.1.
"Lt Harry C May Laid to Rest in Home Soil", Natoma Independent – September 8, 1949, p.4.
"314th Fighter Squadron". Luke Air Force Base. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
"1LT Harry Clay May Jr". Find A Grave. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
"Harry C May Jr". HonorStates.org. Retrieved May 8, 2021.