Clarence E. Schetrompf
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

In February 1944, Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Schetrompf was assigned as a gunner with the 758th Bomb Squadron, 459th Bomb Group (Heavy), 304th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force, based at Giulia Airfield, Italy. The 459th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberator bombers on missions in Italy, France, the Balkans, Austria and Germany.

On 8 February 1944, SSGT Schetrompf was a gunner on B-24 Liberator bomber AAF Serial Number 41-29293 that departed Fortaleza, Brazil for Dakar, Africa, at 0103 GMT, on a ferrying mission. Radio contacts were made at 0203, 0303, 0403 GMT and no trouble was reported. At 0503 GMT, Fortaleza ground station attempted to contact the aircraft but was unable to get a reply. It was thought that static or radio trouble had prevented contact. No contact with the aircraft was made after 0403 GMT on 8 February and the aircraft did not arrive at its destination, Dakar. The aircraft had a crew of 10 and no passengers. The crew was listed as MIA.

Search and Recovery Efforts

An extensive search was ordered and all aircraft flying the route between Fortaleza and Dakar were briefed to be on the lookout for oil slicks and life rafts and to listen to the radio for distress calls. The search continued for 10 days and all facilities were used to cover the area. The search produced negative results.

The Casualty Branch of the Adjutant General Office in Washington, DC, listed the cause of the loss as an Accident.

B-24 Liberator Bomber AAF Serial Number 42-29293 had the following crew on 8 February 1944.

● Pilot: 2LT Daniel B. McMillin [Honoree Record ID 65725]
● Co-Pilot: 2LT Charles A. Whittington [Honoree Record ID 67348]
● Navigator: 2LT Thomas L. O’Kelley, Jr. [Honoree Record ID 66033]
● Bombardier: 2LT Clyde E. Myers [Honoree Record ID 65933]
● Engineer: SSGT Elmer J. Strausberger [Honoree Record ID 66959]
● Radio Operator: SSGT Frank C. Elg [Honoree Record ID 64161]
● Gunner: SSGT Donald B. Thompson [Honoree Record ID 67074]
● Gunner: SSGT Clarence E. Schetrompf [Honoree Record ID 66617]
● Gunner: SSGT Harry L. Basa [Honoree Record ID 63152]
● Gunner: SSGT Carl A. Carlson [Honoree Record ID 63580]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge

Memorialization

Staff Sergeant Clarence E. Schetrompf is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the East Coast Memorial in Manhattan, New York County, NY.

[Most of the information in this biography was derived from various sections of the 459th Bombardment Group website at http://www.459bg.org/ and permission was granted for its use.]