Archive Report: US Forces 1941 - 1945Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via Helpdesk
Operation: escort/strafing operation to Bremen, Germany
Date: May 22nd 1944 (Monday)
Unit: No. 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group
Type: P47D Thunderbolt
Serial: 42-74752
Code: HV-J
Base: Boxted Airbase
Location: Süderwalsede, Germany
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Cletus B. Nale O-814735 USAAF Age 21. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Shot down by Focke-Wulf 190 from Jagdgeschwaders 11. No further details.
Burial details:
2nd Lt. Cletus B Nale. Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial. Plot: Plot D, Row 11, Grave 40. Son of Walter and Edna Nale of Siglerville, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, USA. Enlisted on the 07th November 1941 at Harrisburg. Pennsylvania. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart.
Researched for Aircrew Remembered by Michel Beckers and dedicated to relatives of this pilot.
Acknowledgments: Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include:
Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.