Brothers together in the air

[Edward]

found this to be absolutely fascinating ... Must have been both comforting and terrifying at the same time!

Second Lieutenant Clifford McIlveen and his brother First Lieutenant Clarence McIlveen, of the 385th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. 1943.
Left 2/Lt Clifford McIlveen, 22 co-pilot of the "Mary Ellen III" [serial number 42-30816] and (right) 1/Lt Clarence McIlveen, 25, pilot of the "Stars and Stripes" [serial number 42-3544]

- the two brother pilots who met in the same squadron over here after nine months of separation. Clifford has been over several months; Clarence just came over- both have done numerous missions- they fly wing to wing over Germany and occupied Europe whenever possible- and they sleep besides each other in the hut.

 

[zoomer]

(Clarence) McIlveen was shot down over Germany on 24 February 1944, it was his 26th Birthday. The Missing Air Crew report stated that seven parachutes were seen after the aircraft was attacked, but the bodies of the crew were not recovered.

Clifford was reported to be taken Prisoner of War on 20 October 1943. He was interned at Stalag Luft I in Barth Germany and was freed in May 1945 by Russian troops. He married and had two children on his return to the US. He joined the Air National Guard in Idaho, sometime before the Korean War, and died in a training accident near Waco Airport, Texas in 1952.

 

[Edward]

son of a... well now zoomer. that puts it in even more of a reality check for this story.
thanks for the additional info. may their memories live on.

 

[zoomer]

Yes Ed, I was hoping to see a newspaper feature of them reminiscing in later years but it wasn't to be.

 

[ausreenactor]

The loss of a loved one in the same theatre would be hard to cope with. I had the pleasure of serving with my brother and his unit on numerous occasions in Darwin. 161 Recce Sqn provided the airborne 'screen' for 2 Cav Regt using the Kiowa helicopters. Was able to brief a lot of his mates for famil flights and strap them in during lulls in the 'battle'.

One exercise was confronting when an ASLAV went off the end of a road and rolled multiple times. I was in the command post. My supervisor saw my reaction to the Incident Report and Casevac. I was swiftly dragged out of the command post and counselled. "Stu" was not involved; however, all involved were okay in the end.

Never had the privilege to deploy together. He did Iraq twice and hit the 'Ghan twice.. But we chewed a lot of the same fast food in Kuwait!