Service No. #O-014776
Entered the Service From: Kansas
VMF (N) - 531, MAG 31, 4th MBDAW, FMF, Solomon Islands
U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, lists his Next of Kin's Home of Record as Mother: Mrs. Laura B. Rodgers; Frankfort, Kansas. Killed In Action.
MIA in the vicinity of Vella Lavella, Western Province.
Information below gleaned from: https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/A%20History%20of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20531%20PCN%2019000319600_1.pdf
The night of 9-10 February would see the most exciting night combat yet, but it would be marred by the tragic loss of First Lieutenant Clifford W. Watson and his crew, radar operator Sergeant Jack H. Shirk, and gunner Sergeant George E. Brogna. Watson took off "in heavy," and after a few moments, the Ventura was observed crashing into the water and bursting into flames. A crash boat was unable to recover the crew.
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his residence as Bigelow, Kansas. Contact person listed as Mrs. Laura Rodgers (Mother) of Frankfort, Kansas. Employed by School District 115, Bigelow, Kansas.
***I would like to thank Patti Johnson Find A Grave ID 47128084 for adding her photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Sgt. Bellis - USMC Find A Grave ID 48526889 for adding his photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank JimO Find A Grave ID 46874118 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ladisatt Find A Grave ID 46614911 for adding their photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Geoffrey Roecker Find A Grave ID 47006169 for updating the DOB on this memorial***
Entered the Service From: Kansas
VMF (N) - 531, MAG 31, 4th MBDAW, FMF, Solomon Islands
U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, lists his Next of Kin's Home of Record as Mother: Mrs. Laura B. Rodgers; Frankfort, Kansas. Killed In Action.
MIA in the vicinity of Vella Lavella, Western Province.
Information below gleaned from: https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/A%20History%20of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20531%20PCN%2019000319600_1.pdf
The night of 9-10 February would see the most exciting night combat yet, but it would be marred by the tragic loss of First Lieutenant Clifford W. Watson and his crew, radar operator Sergeant Jack H. Shirk, and gunner Sergeant George E. Brogna. Watson took off "in heavy," and after a few moments, the Ventura was observed crashing into the water and bursting into flames. A crash boat was unable to recover the crew.
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his residence as Bigelow, Kansas. Contact person listed as Mrs. Laura Rodgers (Mother) of Frankfort, Kansas. Employed by School District 115, Bigelow, Kansas.
***I would like to thank Patti Johnson Find A Grave ID 47128084 for adding her photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Sgt. Bellis - USMC Find A Grave ID 48526889 for adding his photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank JimO Find A Grave ID 46874118 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ladisatt Find A Grave ID 46614911 for adding their photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Geoffrey Roecker Find A Grave ID 47006169 for updating the DOB on this memorial***
Service No. #O-014776
Entered the Service From: Kansas
VMF (N) - 531, MAG 31, 4th MBDAW, FMF, Solomon Islands
U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, lists his Next of Kin's Home of Record as Mother: Mrs. Laura B. Rodgers; Frankfort, Kansas. Killed In Action.
MIA in the vicinity of Vella Lavella, Western Province.
Information below gleaned from: https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/A%20History%20of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20531%20PCN%2019000319600_1.pdf
The night of 9-10 February would see the most exciting night combat yet, but it would be marred by the tragic loss of First Lieutenant Clifford W. Watson and his crew, radar operator Sergeant Jack H. Shirk, and gunner Sergeant George E. Brogna. Watson took off "in heavy," and after a few moments, the Ventura was observed crashing into the water and bursting into flames. A crash boat was unable to recover the crew.
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his residence as Bigelow, Kansas. Contact person listed as Mrs. Laura Rodgers (Mother) of Frankfort, Kansas. Employed by School District 115, Bigelow, Kansas.
***I would like to thank Patti Johnson Find A Grave ID 47128084 for adding her photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Sgt. Bellis - USMC Find A Grave ID 48526889 for adding his photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank JimO Find A Grave ID 46874118 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ladisatt Find A Grave ID 46614911 for adding their photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Geoffrey Roecker Find A Grave ID 47006169 for updating the DOB on this memorial***
Entered the Service From: Kansas
VMF (N) - 531, MAG 31, 4th MBDAW, FMF, Solomon Islands
U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties, 1941-1945, lists his Next of Kin's Home of Record as Mother: Mrs. Laura B. Rodgers; Frankfort, Kansas. Killed In Action.
MIA in the vicinity of Vella Lavella, Western Province.
Information below gleaned from: https://www.marines.mil/portals/1/Publications/A%20History%20of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20531%20PCN%2019000319600_1.pdf
The night of 9-10 February would see the most exciting night combat yet, but it would be marred by the tragic loss of First Lieutenant Clifford W. Watson and his crew, radar operator Sergeant Jack H. Shirk, and gunner Sergeant George E. Brogna. Watson took off "in heavy," and after a few moments, the Ventura was observed crashing into the water and bursting into flames. A crash boat was unable to recover the crew.
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his residence as Bigelow, Kansas. Contact person listed as Mrs. Laura Rodgers (Mother) of Frankfort, Kansas. Employed by School District 115, Bigelow, Kansas.
***I would like to thank Patti Johnson Find A Grave ID 47128084 for adding her photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Sgt. Bellis - USMC Find A Grave ID 48526889 for adding his photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank JimO Find A Grave ID 46874118 for adding his photo to this memorial***
***I would like to thank ladisatt Find A Grave ID 46614911 for adding their photo of Clifford to this memorial***
***I would like to thank Geoffrey Roecker Find A Grave ID 47006169 for updating the DOB on this memorial***
Family Members
Siblings
Other Records
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
