A Grail Item Obtained: A SSM/DFC/AM Recipient 2nd Armored Liaison Pilot Flies in to the Collection!

1st Lt C. D. S-T. C-L-A-I-R was born in 1918 and obtained his civilian pilots license at a young age. He simply loved to fly his son recalls. Selected to attend the FIRST Liaison Pilot course at Fort Sill, OK, he graduated (half of the class didn't make it) and was quickly attached to the 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. He stayed with this unit as a Battalion pilot during the Tunisian Campaign, participated during the French Invasion, and follow-on combat through Germany. He states in a L-4 Grasshopper Newsletter that he "ended up in Berlin" and got home in September 1945 after 33 months overseas. He goes on to say that "I was extremely lucky having the same L-4 for the entire War."

S-T. C-L-A-I-R was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters. This brave pilot flew over 450 combat missions over enemy occupied territory during the course of the war.

This uniform came straight from the vet's son and he provided citations, photos, and a nice letter describing his father's combat history.

He went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam retiring from the Army as a Major in 1962. He retired in Pensacola, FL and passed away in 1999.

Please take a moment to read the citations, view the photos, and honor this brave pilot that no-doubt saved countless numbers of personnel on the ground with his forward observation!