World War II Honoree

Cletus J. Cigainero

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Texarkana, Arkansas

Honored By

Olivia Cigainero

Relationship

Wife & Family

TRAINED TO BE A NAVY PILOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PASS PRIMARY NAVIGATIONAL EXAMINATION. TRAINED TO BE A GUNNER AND ALSO AN AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE. AS A RESULT OF TRAINING, HE FLEW ON MANY MISSIONS AS A BACKUP PILOT, AS HE WAS QUALIFIED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. ASSIGNED TO THE VPB-198 BOMB SQUADRON AT NAVAL AIR STATION, MOFFETT FIELD, CALIFORNIA. PARTICIPATED IN MANY SHORE PATROLS IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA LOOKING FOR JAPANESE WHO MAY BE INFILTRATING THE AREA. HIS OTHER STATIONS OF ASSIGNMENT INCLUDE ATHENS, GEORGIA; MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE; NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA; OKLAHOMA AND DALLAS, TEXAS.