Richard H. McCLURE

Source : Tx Oma

Spouse : Geraldine Conti 

Parents : William A. et Harriet Webb McCLURE

Source : Skip Farrow

B-17 G  #43-38057

"Miss Umbriago"

Mission No. 270, November 9, 1944, in the region of Metz, Germany, to bomb concrete sites in support of American ground troops.

The weather was bad in England and above target.

The bombardment was assisted by Gee-H radar equipment. Two B-17s from 427th BS had a mid-air collision shortly after takeoff and crashed near Wenlock, Shropshire, England.

CEMETERY TEMPORARY of Cambridge N°1615

 Story of Cemetery Temporary 

CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY and MEMORIAL

Coton, South Cambridgesh

 Richard McClure was the son of William A. and Harriet Webb McClure. The family lived in Fremont, CA in 1930, and by 1939 they lived in Mountain View, CA. Richard graduated from Mountain View high school in 1939. He was an outstanding student, taking part in student body activities and graduated with a high scholastic record.

He went on to Stanford University, continuing his academic excellence. Richard married Geraldine Conti while attending college.

He left Stanford early in 1943 and joined the the Army Air Corps, becoming a B-17 pilot. After training he was based with the 427th Bomb Squadron, Molesworth, England. He became co-pilot under 2LT Stanley Pursel. Their B-17 was registration number 43-38057 and was unnamed.

On 9 November 1944 Pursel and McClure's crew was tasked to join a bombing raid headed for Metz, Germany in support of ground troops. As their aircraft climbed out to the formation assembly point it was involved in a midair collision with another B-17. Only the tail gunner from McClure's aircraft was able to bail out, Sgt. Robert G. Hannah. The rest of the crew perished when the B-17 came down near Wenlock, England. The crew was buried in the American Cemetery at Cambridge.

Richard McClure, high school grad photo

Source : Rob Bennett

B-17G #43-38057

◼Stanley E Pursel :: Pilot

◼Richard H McClure :: Co-Pilot

◼Joseph A Cecce Jr :: Navigator
◼William F Drew :: Bombardier
◼Gildo Fugazzi :: Waist Gunner
◼John E Kling :: Engineer
◼Philip M Schoch :: Ball Turret Gunner
◼Kenneth H Stockman :: Radio Operator

 B-17 #43-37666

◼Robert W Davis :: Pilot

◼Dorwin D Sayre :: Co-Pilot

Crew of B-17 G  #43-38057 "Miss Umbriago"

 2Lt Stanley E. Pursel (Pilot)(KIA)

2Lt Richard H. McClure (CoPilot)(KIA)

2Lt Joseph A. Cecce, Jr. (Navigator)(KIA)

Sgt John E. Kling (Mechanic)(KIA)

Sgt Philip M. Schoch (Gunner)(KIA)

Sgt Kenneth H. Stockman (Radio Opérator)(KIA)

Sgt Gildo Fugazzi (Gunner)(KIA)

S/Sgt Howard H. Ganson (Gunner)

Sgt Robert G. Hannah (Gunner)(KIA)