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Cleland, Deston Kenneth

Individual Personnel Data
Name Cleland, Deston Kenneth, "Duke"   
Rank Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 39536635   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72, effective 16 April 1944.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 12th Reinforcement Depot, AAF Station 591, effective 20 July 1944.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 20 July 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on 24 April 1944 per General Orders #66, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 3 May 1944.
Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism on 24 April 1944
Air Medal wit oak leaf clusters.
Citation For
Higher Decoration
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. DESTON K. CLELAND, 39536635, Staff Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For heroism while serving as a Tail Gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany, 24 April 1944. Sergeant Cleland's aircraft was intercepted by an unusually large number of enemy fighter planes and engaged by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire over a long period of time. Although severely wounded early in the engagement and despite intense pain, Sergeant Cleland, with total disregard for his own personal safety, remained at his gun position, repeatedly driving off enemy fighter planes. The courage, coolness and skill displayed by Sergeant Cleland on this occasion reflects the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered military service from California. Source: 1st Bomb Division General Order #75,6 June 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 May 1915
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #29 dated 12 February 1944.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #114 dated 16 June 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Knapp, Paul BernardPilotCT
2nd Lt. Pulliam, Lyle JamesCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Colarusso, Alfred JamesNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Austin, Raymond Lee, JrBombardierCT
PVT. Stahl, Bruce WarrenRadio Operator / GunnerWIA
S/SGT. Jakway, James AllenEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Mason, Covert NathanBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Cleland, Deston Kenneth, "Duke"Tail GunnerCT
SGT. LaSalle, Angelo AloysiusFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Cates, Clay FranklinFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑31274 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
44 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Tail Gunner 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Tail Gunner 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Briefed to fly in high Squadron of composite group, flew #7 of lead Squadron of 379th BG, landed away at Alconbury due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
49 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑31346 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group. Dropped fifty parcels of nickles (propaganda pamphlets) plus 6x500 GP on target.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑29703 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑37848 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1044 just off The Naze because #2 and #3 engines were smoking and the gas mixture was set too rich.
Sortie Report
61 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑29703 Combat Mission Credit
High squadron. Landed away at RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex, on return due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
69 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑37789 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1010 hrs when #2 supercharger ran away at altitude and could not be controlled until below 1,500'.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑37885 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because oil pressure dropped on #3 engine, requiring it to be feathered immediately.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑31375 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑37785 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1117 hrs because #3 supercharger ran away and could not be controlled.
Sortie Report
74 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑31495 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
77 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
78 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
83 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report
85 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
87 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
88 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
92 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Tail Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report
93 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Tail Gunner 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Tail Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Togglier 42‑97178 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
127 6 June 1944 Target: Rocket Gun Installation
Type: Military
Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France
Togglier 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Togglier 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Togglier 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report

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