From Missing Air Crew Reports it is possible to piece together the short life of Clyde W. Whispell who was born about 1924. Clyde, who was a single man without dependants, enlisted in the service during World War II. While on a mission aboard a C-54 unarmed transport aircraft that departed from Kurmitola, India for Kunming, China for reasons not mentioned in the official report, the aircraft crashed and burned near Bhamo, Burma.

There was a crew of 4 souls aboard the aircraft and all were killed when the airplane crashed Lost in action on 21 Apr 1945 at 1855 hours was Pilot, 1st Lt. Dwight Irvine; Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Merrill Hoyle; Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Glenn E. Marshall, and Avaition Engineer, Clyde W. Whispell, whose serial number was 33619110.

Recovery teams spotted the burned wreckage, and people on the ground who talked with Burmese natives, one in particular who spoke excellent English, confirmed that there were no survivors of the crash. Initially upon impact, the plane burned so hot that the villagers could not help any of the crew. The following day they again went to the wreckage where they found the body of one crew member who had been thrown clear of the wreckage. They eventually were able to locate the additional three crew members entrapped under one of the engines. Only a few personal effects were able to be recovered including a watch inscribled "Merry Christmas to Merrill from Mom and Dad" belonging to 2nd Lt. Merrill Hoyle, also some dog tags that identified some of the crew. No effects were found for Clyde W. Whispell. This young man, only 21 years of age had given his all for his country.

Clyde W Whispell