2nd Lt. Donald Byron Clee was born on July 21,1923 to parents Clarence Walter and Marjorie Burwell Clee in Asheville, North Carolina.

At the time of this story, the author was not able to discover additional information on the early life of 2nd Lt. Clee. Regardless, we honor the sacrifices he made….thank you, 2nd Lt. Clee.

2nd Lt. Clee registered for the draft on June 30,1942 in Bakersville, North Carolina while employed by the U.S. Forest Service in John Day, Oregon. He enlisted on February 1,1943 in Miami Beach, Florida, and in September 1943 reported to the Army Air Force pre-flight school at Maxwell Field, Alabama. 2nd Lt. Clee underwent extensive training, and upon receiving his wings and 2nd Lt. commission, he was assigned to the Ninth Air Force, 404th Fighter Group, 506th Fighter Squadron. In addition to the 506th FS, the 404th FG was comprised of the 507th FS and 508th FS.

The 404th FG was stationed at the following bases in the United States:

Key Field, Mississippi - February 1943; Congaree Army Airfield, South Carolina – July 1943; Burns Army Airfield, Oregon – September 1943; and Myrtle Beach Army Airfield, South Carolina – November 1943. When it shipped out to Europe in April 1944, the 404th FG’s first base was Winkton, England at Royal Air Force Base Winkton / United States Army Air Force Station 414.

The 404th FG began as the 404th Bombardment Group on January 25,1943, was activated on February 4,1943, and redesignated as the 404th Fighter Bomber Group in August 1943. During this time, they trained in a number of different aircraft including the Bell P-39 AiraCobra and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes. In May 1944, the 404th was redesignated as the 404th FG.

The pilots experienced rigorous training as a requirement to receive their wings and commissions, and the different stages of training were as follows:

Classification: The stage where it would be decided whether the air cadet would train as a navigator, bombardier, or pilot.

Preflight: Ground training for all cadets. Successful completion meant being assigned to a flying school for training.

Primary: Here they were taught basic flying using two-seat training aircraft. This involved learning formation flying, air navigation, and cross country flying.

Advanced: Single or multi-engine aircraft schools for air cadets becoming fighter, bomber, or transport pilots. After graduation, the air cadet received his wings and was commissioned as second lieutenant.

Becoming operational in May 1944, the 404th FG participated in missions to help Allied forces prepare for the Normandy, France invasion on D-Day – June 6,1944. These critical strafing and bombing missions included attacking German targets such as troop concentrations, railyards, bridges, tunnels, roadways, fuel centers, armored vehicles such as tanks and personnel carriers, ammunition storage facilities, ships, shipyards, submarine bases, and airfields. In addition to these ground attacks, the 404th FG was instrumental in engaging German aircraft in aerial combat and escorting/protecting Allied bombers such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and Martin B-26 Marauder bombers on their bombing missions.

After their missions while stationed at RAF Winkton, and as the Allies began their push through Continental Europe to Germany, the 404th FG moved their base to captured airfields or airfields constructed in key areas:

Chapelle, France – July 1944

Bretigny, France – August 1944

Juvincourt, France – September 1944

St-Trond, Belgium – October 1944

Keltz, Germany – March 1945

Fritzlar, Germany – April 1945

Stuttgart, Germany – June 1945

The 404th FG received three awards for heroic work in vital missions:

U.S. Distinguished Unit Citation

French Croix de Guerre with Palm

Order of the Day, Belgium Army

On March 14,1945 – on what would be his final mission – 2nd Lt. Clee took flight in his P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter (Serial # 44-33128, Code YJ-H) with fellow pilots of the 506th Fighter Squadron out of ST. Trond Advanced Landing Ground Base A-92 on an armed reconnaissance mission with a target destination near Cologne, Germany. In Missing Air Crew Report # 13102, squadron leader Captain Arthur E. Justice, Jr. reported that during their bombing/strafing mission, 2nd Lt. Clee radioed that he had been hit by German anti-aircraft fire near Euskirchen, Germany -south of Cologne - and his plane’s oil pressure was very low. Capt. Justice radioed heading coordinates to 2nd Lt. Clee, and eight minutes after that communication, 2nd Lt. Clee radioed that he was going to parachute out of his plane. This is the last time squadron members had verbal or visual contact with him, and he was presumed deceased either bailing out or crashing with his plane.

2nd Lt. Clee’s remains were discovered, and he was temporarily buried in a European cemetery. He was then transported to the United States from Europe along with 7,571 other Fallen American Heroes - 211 from North Carolina - aboard the U.S. Army Transport ship Carroll Victory in November 1948. He found his final rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on December 20,1948.

A memorial honoring heroes of the 404th FG can be found at:https://www.memorialgenweb.org/memorial3/html/fr/photo.php?id_source=995464 Contribution photo: Christophe DELASALLE 02/08/2021, Prise de vue : 29/07/2021

Cette photographie est sous licence d'usage CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

For his sacrifice and service for freedom, 2nd Lt. Clee was awarded the Purple Heart.

The 404th FG motto: Igne Ferroque Hostem Armatum Contere

“To crush the armed enemy with fire and steel”

Thank you for your sacrifice and service in fighting to protect freedom and democracy 2nd Lt. Clee….Rest in Peace.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII Fallen saved on Together We Served and www.Fold3.com . Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me…I would be honored to make changes/additions where requested.

kgm72@comcast.net

Donald B Clee