World War II Honoree

Clarence Leo Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Minonk, Illinois

Honored By

Joy Ann Adams

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED AS A NAVIGATIONAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. ENLISTED ON MARCH 15, 1941 AT CHANUTE FIELD, RANTOUL, ILLINOIS AT THE AGE OF 25. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1941 HE RECEIVED A DIPLOMA IN AIRPLANE MECHANICS FROM THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS TECHNICAL SCHOOL, 17TH SQUADRON, CHANUTE FIELD. SPENT 18 MONTHS AS AN INSTRUCTOR, RISING TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. SENT TO KELLY FIELD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AS AN AVIATION CADET, GOING ON TO PRIMARY FLYING SCHOOL AT COLEMAN FIELD, GOODFELLOW FIELD, SAN ANGELO AND ON TO ADVANCED AVIATION TWIN ENGINE SCHOOL IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS. HE RECEIVED HIS WINGS AT THE LUBBOCK ARMY FLYING SCHOOL IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS ON MAY 20, 1943 AND ACHIEVED THE RANK OF 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WENT ON TO THE ARMY AIR FORCE NAVIGATIONAL SCHOOL IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS AND THE ARMY AIR FORCE GULF COAST TRAINING CENTER AT RANDOLPH FIELD, TEXAS. AFTER GRADUATING, HE BECAME A NAVIGATIONAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR THE B-17, B-29 AND B-52. HIS NICKNAME FOR HIS FLIGHT STUDENTS WAS 'MILLER’S MARAUDERS'. HE FINISHED SERVICE AT HENDRICKS FIELD, SEBRING, FLORIDA AND WAS ABOUT TO BE SENT OVERSEAS WHEN THE WAR CAME TO AN END.