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| Lt. Clifford Coultas was a co-pilot in the 447th Bombardment Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65335652/clifford-w-coultas http://www.8thafhs-pa.org/stories/bomb-group-gallery/447th-bomb-group/ |
Clifford W. Cloutas never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on September 14, 1919 in Illinois. His parents Carl and Eva were also both born in Illinois. His father worked as a farmer and later as a cartridge mill machinist. Clifford had two older brothers, one older sister. By 1940 Clifford had completed four years of high school, was living at home, and working on the family farm.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force in March 1942. He qualified for flight school and became a co-pilot in the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group which was equipped with B-17s. The 447th BG flew its first combat mission on Christmas Eve 1943, out of its base in Rattlesden, England. Lt. Coultas flew a total of 10 missions.
On February 13, 1944 the target for the 447th BG was the aircraft plant at Brunswick, Germany. It lost two crews, including Coultas's bomber.
His grave is at Winchester City Cemetery in Winchester, Illinois.
B-17 navigator Gilbert Lawson was born one year earlier on the same date. You can read about Gilbert here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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