World War II Honoree

Carl Clifton Wheeler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lehigh, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1940, WORKED IN THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS IN CASPER AND RIVERTON, WYOMING. ENLISTED IN THE AIR FORCES IN 1942 AND WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN FEBRUARY, 1943. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, ATTENDED COE COLLEGE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. DEPLOYED OVERSEAS AND LANDED IN FOGGIA, ITALY ON OCTOBER 4, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 463RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP STATIONED AT CELONE AIRFIELD IN ITALY. FLEW IN B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER AIRCRAFT ON MISSIONS PRIMARILY AGAINST STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES LIKE MARSHALLING YARDS, OIL REFINERIES, AND AIRCRAFT FACTORIES IN AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. FLEW 35 COMBAT MISSIONS, 27 OF WHICH HE SERVED AS LEAD BOMBARDIER. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM WHILE LEADING A STRIKE THROUGH 3 MAJOR ENEMY ATTACKS TO BOMB TANK FACTORIES IN BERLIN, GERMANY ON MARCH 24, 1945. DEPARTED FROM ITALY ON MAY 8, 1945 (V-E DAY) AND ARRIVED BACK IN THE USA ON MAY 12, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.