World War II Honoree

Raymond W. Clanton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

California

Honored By

Ms. Sharon Rasmussen

Relationship

Daughter

Arrived at Saipan on December 6, 1944 as pilot on B-29 Super Fortress with the 881st Squadron, 500th Bomb Group, 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force, Army Air Corps. Served 27 missions as a Pilot, 5 missions as Airplane Commander. Received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbons with 2 Bronze Stars, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential Citation Ribbon. The first combat mission was on December 11, 1944 it was a Photo Reconnaissance mission target No. 357 Musashino Aircraft Plant in Tokyo, Japan. The 3rd mission was combat. Encountered very heavy flack and heavy fighter attack; Radio Operator lost a hand which ended his military service. Bombardier and left gunner also hit by flack, injuries not serious. Plane full of holes, returned to Saipan. An interesting Japanese fighter tactic was to pull up from below the B-29 formations and to rock on the rudders while firing their guns, That literally created wall of lead for the the B-29 to pass through, Several super fortress were lost on that mission to Nagoya, Japan.