World War II Honoree

Clayton A. Mink

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hudson, New York

Honored By

Cara M. Ryan

Relationship

Granddaughter

FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST 1944, CLAYTON HAD SUCCESSFULLY FLOWN 21 COMBAT MISSIONS ON A B-24 BOMBER, NAMED THE 'NEAR SIGHTED ROBIN.' AFTER TRANSITION TRAINING ON THE NEW B-17 BOMBERS, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER ON THE B-17 BOMBER, CALLED THE RANGLER. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1944 CLAYTON'S 22ND MISSION TO KASSEL, GERMANY THE ENTIRE TAIL SECTION OF THE TAIL GUNNER WAS SEVERED FROM THE PLANE. HE PARACHUTED OUT AND HE AND 1ST LIEUTENANT HENRY LAMBERT, 1ST LIEUTENANT WAYNE JORGENSON, 1ST LIEUTENANT MYRON MCDERMOTT AND STAFF SERGEANT WALLACE BRAUKS WERE CAPTURED. CLAYTON WAS INTERROGATED IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY AND THEN PLACED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 10 DAYS. HE AND OTHER POW WERE THEN TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN TO GROSSTYCHOW, GERMANY AND PLACED IN THE POW CAMP STALAG-LUFT 4. ON FEBRUARY 6, 1945 HE AND MANY OTHERS DEPARTED STALAG LUFT 4 ON WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE 80 DAY DEATH MARCH. UNBEKNOWNST TO CLAYTON, THIS FORCED MARCH WAS TO ESCAPE THE ADVANCING RUSSIAN ARMY. ON APRIL 26, 1945 AT BITTERFELD, GERMANY THE MEN THAT SURVIVED WERE LIBERATED BY THE U.S. MILITARY UNIT OF THE 104TH DIVISION.