Clifford Max Klein was born on 24 May 1924 to parents: Harvey Leroy Klein (1890 – 1972) and Winnie Mae Foor Klein (1893 – 1979) of Gladwin, Michigan.

He graduated with the Class of 1942 from Gladwin High School. Enlisted (ASN: 16116038) in the Army Air Corps as a Private on 24 Feb 1943 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Assigned to the Army Air Force (AAF) Cadet Training Detachment (CTD), Western State Teachers' College at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Completed basic military training at Miami Beach, Florida.

Completed AAF Pre-Flight School for Pilots at Maxwell Field near Montgomery, Alabama.

Completed Primary flying training, and then Basic flight training graduating with Class 44-0 at Walnut Ridge Army Air Field, Arkansas.

On 15 April 1944, he was awarded his silver wings at graduation exercises from the Advanced Twin Engine Flying Training School at Blytheville Army Air Field, Arkansas; where he was commissioned (ASN: O-828456) a Second Lieutenant in the USAAF.

Reported to the AAF Northeastern Training Center for instruction in flying the B-17 Flying Fortress at Lockbourne Army Air Field near Columbus, Ohio.

Assigned to the 874th Bomb Squadron at Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico.

Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Great Bend Army Air Field, Kansas.

On 2 February 1945 he deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 498th Bombardment Group (VH), 874th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

After 35 combat missions, he flew as a passenger on a Boeing B-29A Superfortress, serial #44-61663, enroute to Kwajalein and the United States.

Approximately two hours after take-off, the #1 engine caught fire and had to be feathered to extinguish the fire. The crew radioed they would return to Saipan. At approximately 0230 hours, on 5 October 1945, the aircraft crashed while landing in a strong cross-wind at Kobler Naval Air Field on Saipan.

Lt Klein and 15 others did not survive the crash.

Clifford M Klein