2LT. Clifton William Strunk was a Pilot with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group; 380th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO).

His Hometown was Royersford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, 29 September 1943
380th BS War Diary: When the crews came home today after hitting at another bridge, this one at Castelvenere, Italy, we received the bad news. Lt. Strunk and his crew, were hit by a burst of flak in the bomb bay of the plane. The bomber immediately was enveloped in flames and only one chute was seen to come from the falling plane. We are all hoping for the best however.

380th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---) Group Mission # : Mission Report # 132 Date- Sep 29 1943 Target- Rd Bridge SE of Castelvenere & RD Bridge Squadron airplanes- two S of Amorosi Keeping up a steady, daily precision-like bombing of all lines of travel 36 B-25’s of our Group struck at the highway and RR bridge ½ mile south of Amorosi and at the bridge 3 miles SE of Castelvenere. Of this number, but two of our a/c succeeded in participating and they filled in the gap of the formation as spares. The former target of the two assigned was well hit, with strings of bombs walking across the road S and N of the bridge. Both approaches were severed and the road leading S of town of Amorosi was believed hit. The bridge at Castelvenere was not hit although the S approaches believed severed. A number of strings of bombs were reported to have cut the two roads SW of S end of bridge. The formation was forced to run a gauntlet of heavy accurate flak of a moderate intensity. Accurate fire from the ground defenses scored a direct hit on the B-25 piloted by Lt. Strunk. The plane burst into flames and only one chute was seen to open. (See casualty section) All other a/c returned safely to base.

380th BS War Diary: Casualty Report: 29 September 1943 On the above day while participating in an operational mission to bomb the Road Bridge south of Castelvenere, Italy, the following men are reported missing:

Pilot- Lieut. C.W. Strunk
Co-Pilot- Lieut. D.G. Liggett
Bombardier- S/Sgt. L.A. Miller
Radio Operator- S/Sgt R.J. Welsh
Upper-Gunner- Sgt. B.W. Himes
Tail-Gunner- S/Sgt. J.H. Revis

ADDITIONAL: The B-25 piloted by Lieut. Strunk was seen hit by a direct burst of flak which caused the plane to be immediately enveloped in flames. One chute was seen to come out of the stricken aircraft. No further information.

380th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 761:

1. Right wing came off, then left wing came off, broke from the bomb bay. Each section was burning. Pilot and Co-pilot turned around at sound of explosion, co-pilot on his knees on his seat. Pilot turned back to flying and plane disintegrated. Direct hit in bomb bay caused fuselage to bulge and open large holes. Co-pilot seemed to reach for overhead hatch when section fell off. Statement of Lt. Albert K. Oechsle.
Oechsle, Albert K., 2Lt, pilot, 379th BS

2. Bombs came out of bomb bay with shackles on. Explosion in right wing. Then left wing bent down and off the plane. Nose came off at navigator’s compartment. Tail broke off at top turret. Middle section disintegrated. About 5 to 6 seconds later a chute opened to rear and as planes came off target chute could be seen still floating. Pieces of plane hit ground about same moment formation’s bombs did. Statement of S/Sgt Joseph E. Shields.
Shields, Joseph E., S/Sgt, gunner, 379th BS

A/C B-25C; Serial No. 41-13197; MACR-761; shot down by flak
P Strunk, Clifton W., 2Lt - KIA
CP Liggett, Arthur G., Jr., 2Lt - KIA
N None
B Miller, Lester A., S/Sgt - MIA, POW, liberated, RTD
E None
R Welsh, Richard J., S/Sgt - MIA, POW, liberated, RTD
G Himes, Burke W., Sgt - KIA
TG Revis, John H., S/Sgt - KIA

Eyewitness Account: Welsh, Richard J., S/Sgt, radio-gunner, 380th BS (Some time after RTD)

CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE

German officer who interrogated me said that only two chutes had opened, or been seen, giving me name of other captive - L.A. Miller, S/Sgt.

STRUNK, Clifton W.: Supposedly dead because he was not wearing chute at time plane was hit and, in my opinion, it would have been impossible to don one in time to get out.

LIGGETT, Arthur G. Jr.: Suppose him to be dead because he was not wearing chute at time plane was hit.

HIMES, Burke W.: In upper turret. Think him to be dead as he made no move to descend from turret although he was being burned severely. He was not wearing a chute.

REVIS, John H.: In position in tail. Suppose him to be dead as he was not wearing a chute.

L.H. Miller bailed out at low altitude according to information given me by him. He went out slide window on left side of bombardier’s compartment.

All in good condition in assigned positions when blast of flak and immediate surge of flames into right waist window obliterated everything except Sgt Himes who was visible for perhaps a second. He made no move to descend from turret though flames were scorching his body.

Eyewitness Account: Miller, Lester Amos, S/Sgt, bombardier-gunner, 380th BS (Some time after RTD)

CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE

Richard Welsh was the only other one to bail out of the craft I was on. Pilot, Co-pilot, Turret Gunner and Tail Gunner were dead at their positions in the aircraft when it hit the ground, outside of Benevento.

Clifton W Strunk