The 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) activated for service prior to U.S. entry in World War II on January 15, 1941 at Langley Field in Virginia. They trained stateside in Massachusetts, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, and California. They first patrolled the east coast after the Japanese Imperial Air Force bombed Pearl Harbor. They later participated in the defense of the West Coast of the US. They first trained with B-17s but later flew B-24s.
The 34th Bomb Group was based at RAF Mendlesham in England from August of 1944 to April of 1945 as part of the U.S. 8th Air Force. They prepared for the Normandy invasion with advance bombing in France of airfields, communication lines, and defense posts. They supported the Allies at St. Lo in July and the Northern France campaign through the summer of 1944. They participated in attacks during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45, and then moved into the Central Europe campaign, where they continued to bomb targeted sites such as oil fields and airfields in Germany until February of 1945. They then switched to supporting the Allied forces on the ground. After Victory in Europe in May of 1945, they supported areas of Holland and transported liberated Allied prisoners of war from German camps. The 34th Bomb Group inactivated on Aug. 28, 1945 at the Sioux Falls Army Air Field in South Dakota.
2nd Lieutenant Clifford E. Rowe joined the 7th Bomb Squadron, of the 34th Bombardment Group (224 AAF BU), with the U.S. 8th Air Force.
Clifford Earl Rowe was born on April 22, 1923 in Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin to Earl and Ada Mae (Evans) Rowe.
From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Rowe family lived in Shullsburg. The household included father Earl, mother Ada, and children Clifford, Alberta, Bessie, and Lilah. Father Earl was a laborer in a lead and zinc mine for wages.
From the 1940 U.S. Census, the family was in the same place and father Earl now owned their home. The family saw the addition of daughter Dorothy. Father Earl was shoveling in a zinc mine for paid wages.
On June 30, 1942, Clifford Earl Rowe registered for the WWII Draft. His place of residence was Savanna in Carroll County, Illinois. He was working at the Savanna War Ordnance Depot. He gave his mother as his next of kin in Shullsburg.
Further information was provided by Stories Behind the Stars researcher Mac Kolar that Clifford Rowe graduated from Shullsburg High School as class valedictorian in 1941. He played basketball in high school. He attended Platteville Teachers College where he was a secondary education student, followed by being employed in Savanna, Illinois.
Rowe enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Jan. 4, 1943. He trained to be a navigator and earned his wings and commission on April 22, 1944, his 21st birthday.
In the Nov. 8, 1944 The Capital Times notice, “Shullsburg Man Gets Air Medal,” the news was that “Lieut. Clifford E. Rowe, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rowe, Shullsburg, has won the air medal, according to an announcement by an 8th AAF bomber station in England. Rowe, now a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress, has participated in aerial attacks upon Merseberg, Kassell, Ludwigshaven, Nurnberg, Cologne.”
From the Dec. 6, 1944 Grant County Herald came the news that “Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rowe, Shullsburg, received notice from the War Department, Monday, that their son, Lt. Clifford E. Rowe has been missing in action over Germany since Nov. 5. Lt. Rowe was a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress.”
On Feb. 19, 1945, a Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Rowe, Shullsburg, Killed Over Germany,” gave the news that “Second Lieut. Clifford E. Rowe, 21, previously reported missing in action, was killed in action over Mannheim, Germany, Nov. 5, the war department has informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rowe, Shullsburg.
“Lieut. Rowe was born in Shullsburg, was graduated from Shullsburg High School as valedictorian in 1941, and attended Platteville State Teachers College. He was employed in Savanna, Ill., when he entered the army air corps in Dec. 1942. He received his wings Apr. 22, 1944, his 21st birthday. The death was the fourth among Shullsburg servicemen.”
From the Feb. 21, 1945 Grant County Herald, further information was provided that “Lt. Rowe was attached to a B-17, which went down over Manheim. Members of the formation saw the plane go into a spin and two parachutes were seen to emerge. Nothing further was heard of the crew. The report of the young man’s death came through the Red Cross. Clifford was the oldest of a family of seven children and is survived by his parents, five sisters and a baby brother, Bobby, five months, whom he never saw.”
Further information was provided by Stories Behind the Stars researcher Mac Kolar: “On 5 Nov 1944, Lt Rowe was killed when his B-17 went down over Mannheim, Germany. Just after bombs away, the aircraft received a direct hit by flak which destroyed the tail section. Following the hit, the aircraft started a steep climb to the right and went into a flat spin. It then went into a dive, losing altitude and began to rapidly go into a slight spiral. The aircraft was on fire and not under control. Two parachutes were seen exiting from the aircraft. All ten crew members were killed and buried at the Central Cemetery, Mannheim, Germany.” The aircraft was B-17G #43-38363 (“Powerful Poodle”).
Second Lieutenant Clifford E. Rowe is listed on the National Archives Gold Star Honor Roll as being from Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He received the Air Medal just before he was killed in action, and the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.
Second Lieutenant Clifford Earl Rowe is believed to be buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Shullsburg. Father Earl Rowe applied for a military Headstone for Military Veterans on June 14, 1950.
[Note: This researcher did not find a record of his remains being repatriated and returned for reburial.]
Thank you, Second Lieutenant Clifford Earl Rowe, for your service to and sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
