World War II Honoree

John Franklin 'Snake' Clendenen, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Whitesville, West Virginia

Honored By

Mrs. Ann Clendenen Danko

Relationship

Daughter

HE JOINED THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1942. AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING AS A TWIN ENGINE PILOT, HE WAS SENT TO BARKSDALE FIELD AT SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA FOR MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER TRAINING. THIS WAS IN PREPARATION FOR OVERSEAS COMBAT DUTY, BUT WHEN HIS CLASS LEFT FOR ENGLAND, HE WAS LEFT BEHIND TO HELP TRAIN A GROUP OF FREE FRENCH PILOTS THAT HAD BEEN SENT OVER FROM NORTH AFRICA. WHILE ENGAGED IN THIS ACTIVITY, HE INCURRED A SERVICE-CONNECTED INJURY TO HIS RIGHT EYE, DETACHING THE RETINA, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BE GROUNDED. HE WAS SENT TO VALLEY FORGE GENERAL HOSPITAL IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR SURGERY. UPON HIS RETURN TO BARKSDALE, HE FOUND THAT ALL B-26 TRAINING HAD STOPPED AND THE BASE CONVERTED TO BOEING B-29 TRAINING. AFTER APPLYING FOR A WAIVER TO RETURN TO FLYING STATUS, HE WAS TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED AS A MAINTENANCE OFFICER ON B-29 AIRCRAFT. HIS APPLICATION FOR A WAIVER WAS DENIED AND HE WAS DISCHARGED AT DREW FIELD, FLORIDA ON JUNE 18, 1945.