Clarence H Miles Jr

Clarence Miles;

Clarence H. Miles, Jr. Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 14068323 443rd Bomber Squadron, 320th Bomber Group, Medium Entered the Service from: North Carolina
Died: 21-Oct-44
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery
Florence, Italy Awards: Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters

The B-26C which was being flown by the 443rd Bomb Squadron was actually a 441st Ship.  She was named "Ramblin' Reck" with a Battle Number of *8* on her tail.   The 443rd Crew was assigned to her that day because the CREW was ready but not the ship they regularly flew.  Just before the Target (a Railroad Bridge West of Guardea, Italy) on 20 October, 1943 the engines were seen to start smoking.  The pilot 1st Lt John J Turner made a water landing 50 miles off the Italian coast, near to Giamutri Island.  The pilot and co-pilot 2nd Lt. John R Smart were killed but the other crew members took to the life raft.  The surviving crew members were spotted in the water by other aircraft in the formation.  Despite later sea searches the rest of the crew were never spotted again and presumed dead.  (Information and actual story from B-26 Historian Paul Clouting)

   B-26 #41-34912 Ramblin' Reck B-26 C BN *8* Tail # of the 441st BS

1st Lt Turner, pilot  Lt John J Turner  (Pilot) 0-668165

2nd Lt Smart, co-pilot Lt John R Smart C-Pilot) 0-669799

S/Sgts Chavez, Alexander T Chavez (Radio/Gunner)  13042573

S/Sgt Lefler, Albert L Leffler  (Bombardier) 12038292

S/Sgt Miles Jr.,  Clarence H Miles ( Aerial Gunner ) 14068323

S/Sgt Watt.   Julian Watt,  Eng/Gunner  34125316