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Clyde H. Hamblin

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Clyde H. Hamblin

The following October 19, 1944, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4 column 3:

    Receives Air Medal

    15th AAF in Italy -- S/Sgt. Clyde H. Hamblin, Lowell, Ind., enlisted bombardier and gunner on an AAF B-17 Flying Fortress, has received the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement" in combat operations against the Axis.

    Son of Mrs. W.J. Hull, Lake Dalecarlia, Sgt. Hamblin flew his first mission July 20, when his Fortress unit attacked an airfield at Memmingen, Germany. He since has participated in many of the attacks on Hitler's vital oil and industrial centers and supply lines in southern and central Europe.

    He enlisted April 3, 1942, and received his combat aircrewman's wings June 6, 1942, at Spokane, Wash. Prior to enlisting he was employed by the Wisconsin Steel Co., South Chicago.

This February 1, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 1:

    Veteran of 50 Bombing Missions

    15th AAF in Italy -- T/Sgt. Clyde H. Hamblin of Lowell, Ind., toggolier of a 15th AAF B-17 Flying Fortress in the Mediterranean theatre is watching the progress of the Russians in the Balkans with considerable interest these days.

    From his position in the nose of his Fortress Sgt. Hamblin saw bombs go hurtling down on important industrial and military targets now threatened or in Russian hands on more than 30 occasions.

    Veteran of 50 bombing missions over occupied Europe, Sgt. Hamblin participated in four combing attacks on Budapest, including the huge Manfried Weiss armament works located there and the important rail yards and bridges, keys to German communications.

    Sgt. Hamblin flew on more missions attacking oil production and storage than any other target. In 12 flights over enemy territory his Fortress group, second oldest in the European and Mediterranean theaters, scored hits on the Ploesti, Rumania, refineries and those at Moosbierbaum, Austria, Blechhammer, Germany, and many smaller installations.

    He has been awarded the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf clusters for "meritorious achievement in sustained aerial operations against the enemy".

    Former employee of the Wisconsin Steel Co., South Chicago, Sgt. Hamblin has been in the service since April 3, 1942. His first mission upon arriving in the Mediterranean theater in June, 1944, was the bombing of the Memmingen, Germany, airdrome, July 20.

    He is the son of Mrs. J.W. Hull, of Lake Dalecarlia.

The following February 22, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 4, column 1:

    Leaves for West Coast

    S/Sgt. Clyde Hamblin, who has been here with his mother, Mrs. Warren Hull, and husband, and other relatives the past 15 days, leaves today for Santa Ana, Calif., where he will go to the base hospital for 14 days for a check-up. A bombardier with the 15th air force, Clyde has been overseas nine months and has flown on a number of missions against the Nips. He will soon leave for overseas duty again.
This July 19, 1945, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 2, column 2:

    Another Local Man Discharged

    Receiving an honorable discharge on the point system, Sgt. Claude Hamblin has returned here to the home of his mother, Mrs. Warren Hull, at Lake Dalecarlia. He had been at a Santa Ana, Calif., hospital until recently, where he was recovering from wounds.

    A bombardier with the 15th air force, he was wounded three times during the course of the 52 missions he completed over France and Germany. Hamblin's half-brother, Ernest Louk, still serves as a surgical helper with the medical corps in the Pacific theatre.

Last updated on October 13, 2006.

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