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Personal info

Full name
VAN CLEEF, Arthur Abram
Date of birth
4 October 1902
Age
40
Place of birth
Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey
Hometown
Roselle, Union County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
32385827
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
27 January 1943
Place of death
Harlingen, Terschelling, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Isaac A. Van Cleef (father)
Elizabeth D. (Huff) Van Cleef (mother)
Edgar M. Van Cleef (brother)
Margaret F. Van Cleef (sister)
Elizabeth Van Cleef (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
41-23690
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the naval base
MACR: 15637

More information

S/Sgt Arthur A. Van Cleef was a foreman before he enlisted in Newark, New Jersey, on 24 June 1942.

The primary target as briefed was Wilhelmshaven in Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer in the Netherlands.

On the way back, the formation was attacked by Me 109s and FW 190s, numbering about 36. A few minutes later, at 1155 hours, the aircraft severely damaged an attacking FW 190 and apparently killed the pilot. This enemy aircraft then crashed into the left wing tip, tearing off the left wing as well as the tail assembly. The aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed into the rather shallow Wadden Sea, as did the FW. No one was able to parachute and there were no survivors. Despite a large-scale search by both the Germans and Dutch, only the bodies of three American airmen were found and identified.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, WWII Draft Cards

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Robert Baumgardner