The Clarence A. Aaberg crew: 711th Squadron
Rattlesden, Feb 44
| Standing L-R: | |
| Lt Irving Danzig | Bombardier |
| Lt Ellis B. Colvin | Navigator |
| Lt Clarence Aaberg | Pilot |
| Lt Thomas F. Moriarty | Co-Pilot |
| S/Sgt Richard C. Pitt | Engineer |
| Kneeling L-R: | |
| Sgt W.F. Powell | Waist Gunner |
| Sgt Charles Lamb | Waist Gunner |
| Sgt Fernand R. DuHadway | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Sgt G.S. Foster | Tail Gunner |
| S/Sgt William D Ernest | Radio Operator |
| 01/13/44 | In Transit by air |
| 02/10/44 – 06/44 | 711th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK Special Order No 37, 02/10/44 |
Flights with Clarence A. Aaberg listed as Pilot
This list is NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
| 447th Mission (Date) | Target | Plane Number | Notes |
| #21 (21-Feb-44) | Diepholz, Germany | 42-97497 | Not attack |
| #22 (24-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-38052 | Long delay |
| #23 (25-Feb-44) | Regensburg, Germany | 42-37855 | CRASHED at Penshurst; KIA |
Combat Missions
The Aaberg crew underwent many changes as noted below, and the individual crew members did not always fly together to complete their tour. The following list shows the missions flown by Co-pilot (and later First Pilot) Lt. Thomas F. Moriarty.
| MISSION | DATE | TARGET | AIRCRAFT |
| 1 | 2/20/1944 | TUTOW | 42-37855 |
| 2 | 2/24/1944 | ROSTOCK | 42-37855 |
| Returning from this mission with three engines failing, the aircraft reached England when the crew bailed out. Lt. Clarence Aaberg was the last to leave the plane, and was killed when his parachute failed to open. See Combat Diary- Richard Pitt, Jr. His place was taken by Lt. George Hoffmeister, co-pilot from the original Keller crew, for many of the missions to follow. | |||
| 3 | 2/25/1944 | REGENSBURG | unknown |
| 4 | 3/3/1944 | BERLIN – RECALL | 42-31206 Journey’s End |
| 5 | 3/6/1944 | BERLIN | unknown |
| 6 | 3/8/1944 | BERLIN | 42-31206 |
| 7 | 3/13/1944 | NOBALL NO. 74 BOIS DE LA JUSTICE | 42-31206 |
| 8 | 3/18/1944 | MUNICH | 42-31104 |
| 9 | 3/20/1944 | FRANKFURT | 42-31206 |
| 10 | 3/23/1944 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31206 |
| 11 | 3/28/1944 | CHARTRES | 42-39865 |
| 12 | 4/8/1944 | RHEINE | 42-31206 |
| 13 | 4/9/1944 | WARNEMUNDE | unknown |
| 14 | 4/11/1944 | ARNIMSWALDE | 42-31206 |
| 15 | 4/18/1944 | ORANIENBURG RATHNOW | 42-31206 |
| 16 | 4/19/1944 | LIPSTADT WERL | 42-31161 |
| 17 | 04/20/44 | NOBALL | 42-102441 TNT Katie |
| 18 | 04/22/44 | HAMM | 41-107197 |
| 19 | 04/26/44 | BRUNSWICK | unknown |
| Co-pilot Moriarty is made First Pilot for the crew | |||
| 20 | 04/27/44 | LE CULOT | 42-31206 |
| 21 | 05/07/44 | BERLIN | 42-31206 |
| 22 | 05/09/44 | LAON/ATHIES A/D | 42-31206 |
| 23 | 05/11/44 | MALINES | 42-31206 |
| 24 | 05/20/44 | LIEGE | 42-31206 |
| 25 | 05/22/44 | KIEL | 42-31206 |
| 26 | 05/23/44 | TROYES | 42-31206 |
| 27 | 05/27/44 | KARLSRUHE | 42-31206 |
| 28 | 05/28/44 | KONISBURG | 42-31206 |
| 29 | 05/29/44 | LEIPZIG | 42-31206 |
| 30 | 06/02/44 | CONCHES A/F | 42-31206 |
Lt. Clarence Aaberg |
Lt. Thomas F. Moriarty; Co-Pilot and 1st Pilot |
S/Sgt Richard Pitt, Jr.; Engineer |
S/Sgt William Ernst; Radio Operator |
Sgt Cleveland Lamb, Jr.; Waist Gunner |
Sgt William Powell; Waist Gunner |
Sgt Gilbert Foster; Tail Gunner |
Lt. Clarence Aaberg |
See the growing collection of Lucky Bastard’s Club certificates from the 447th BG.
Captioned: Memorial services for Clarence A Aaberg held at East Writing Rock Church on April 2, 1944 Insignia piece (right) he gave to his sweetheart.
See also: Combat Diary- Richard Pitt, Jr.
Flying Log – Lt. Thomas F. Moriarty (coming soon)
Some photos/information provided by:
- Ellis Colvin
- Tom Moriarty
- Richard Pitt III
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database