World War II Honoree

Clifford Roy Wherley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Greenville, Texas

Honored By

W. S. Stegall & VFW Post 7426, Dallas, TX

ON MARCH 31, 1942 AT THE AGE OF 14, CONVINCED THE MILITARY THAT HE WAS 18 AND JOINED THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE. FLEW 32 COMBAT MISSIONS AS A TOP TURRET GUNNER ABOARD A B-26 MARAUDER. HE WAS A DECORATED SOLDIER BEFORE THE AGE OF 17, HAVING RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS FOR HIS SERVICE IN ENGLAND AND NORTH AFRICA. HIS SERVICE INCLUDED FLYING ON 3 BOMBING RAIDS WITH MAJOR GENERAL DOOLITTLE AND SHOOTING DOWN ONE MESSERSCHMITT BF-109. HIS MOTHER KEPT HIS AGE SECRET FOR 15 MONTHS BEFORE SENDING A COPY OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE. WAS THEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED FOR BEING UNDERAGE. WENT ON A NATIONWIDE BOND TOUR AND WORKED IN A DEFENSE PLANT UNTIL HE FALSIFIED HIS AGE AGAIN AND ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY. WAS ASSIGNED AS A TURRET GUNNER ON A NAVY B-26, BUT ONCE AGAIN WAS SENT HOME WHEN HIS TRUE AGE WAS DETERMINED. HE RE-ENLISTED TO SERVE IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE, BUT WAS SENT HOME AFTER BEING DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC.