Dog Tag to B-17 Gunner

[Reforger]

Well, I finally got around to framing this dog tag that belonged to a B-17 gunner. I also did a little (too much) research and found quite a bit of information on this soldier. Anyway, here it is.

 

 

 

Don D. Clapsaddle In Army Aviation: After having spent the past three weeks here with his parents Don D. Clapsaddle was taken to Des Moines last Saturday, having received his call to join up with the army air corps. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle, made the drive to the capital city and Dick Lund, Algona, accompanied them, as he is a student at Drake. From Des Moines Don proceeded on to Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, where he reported for service. He has been in Santa Monica, California, the past year, working in the North American Aviation Company plant. Four months ago he enlisted in the army air corps out there. Being told that he would be called some time in January he returned to Algona and spent the interim with home folks. Don is a graduate of the local high school, class of 1941. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, February 4, 1943)

 

Don D. Clapsaddle, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle, has joined the army air corps. He is a graduate of Algona. (The Mason City Globe, February 10, 1943)

 

Don Clapsaddle, son of Mr, and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle, has now been transferred to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he will take his primary training in the army air corps. Don is an aviation cadet having enlisted a year ago the 30th of January. While in San Antonio, Texas, he was injured and was put out of commission for three months, setting him back in his schedule. So far he has had three weeks training at Pine Bluff. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, February 1, 1944)

 

Don Clapsaddle arrived home Monday morning from Kingman, Arizona, to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle, while enroute to Tampa, Fla., where he must report on the 17th of this month. Don is in the army air forces and has just graduated from gunnery school. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, August 8, 1944)

 

Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle received word Friday from their son, Cpl. Don Clapsaddle that he was on a 24-hour leave in Washington, D. C., and had received his army post office number. Don is a togelier on a B-17. (A togelier is equivalent to a bombardier, the difference being in the equipment used for the same purpose). (The Algona Upper Des Moines, December 12, 1944)

 

An army air force communication to this paper states that Don D. Clapsaddle, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle of Algona has arrived at the University of Missouri for a five months course of army air force instruction. During this time he will be classified as a pilot, navigator or bombardier. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, April 15, 1943)

 

Algona Soldier Wins Promotion and Medal Fifteenth A. A. F. in Italy--Don D. Clapsaddle, 21 year old B-17 togglier-gunner, son of Mr. H. D. Clapsaddle, of Algona, Iowa, member of an AAF Flying Fortress unit of the 15th Air Force, was recently promoted from corporal to staff sergeant. Sgt. Clapsaddle joined the AAF Oct. 6, 1942, and after extensive training in the states, left for overseas duty in December 1944. He now has 14 combat missions to his credit, and has been awarded the air medal. He was graduated from Algona high school, and was employed as an aircraft worker in Los Angeles, Cal., prior to joining the AAF. (The Mason City Globe, April 17, 1945)

Don Clapsaddle, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Clapsaddle, has received his discharge at Fort Sheridan and is now at home. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, October 25, 1945)

 

Don Clapsaddle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Clapsaddle, has reenlisted in the army and is now located at Ft. Leavenworth, Kans. He is expected home this week on a 90-day furlough, He has signed up for three years. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, November 15, 1945)

 

Mr. and Mrs. Horace Clapsaddle will go to Fort Worth, Tex., to visit Staff Sgt Don Clapsaddle and his wife and little son Don Jr. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, February 10, 1949)

 

Staff Sgt. Don Clapsaddle, his wife, son Don Jr., have returned to Fort Worth, Tex., following a visit here with the former's parents Mr. and Mrs. Horace Clapsaddle and at Tama with the latter s parents Mr. and Mrs. J. F Pelisek were residents here some years ago. (Kossuth County Advance, September 6, 1949)

 

Sgt and Mrs. Don Clapsaddle, and son, Don, Jr., who are visiting relatives in Algona, called on D. D. Clapsaddle Friday morning. Sgt. Clapsaddle and family are from Fort Worth, Texas. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, November 14, 1950)

 

Mrs. Don Clapsaddle and her small son, Fort Worth, Tex., are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Max Bartholomew, and are also visiting at the H. D. Clapsaddle and Ernest Anfinson homes. They came from Tama where they had spent three weeks with Mrs. Joe Pelicek, mother of Mrs. Clapsaddle. Don is now at Schcneclady, N. Y., taking a six weeks course in electronics at General Electric headquarters; he was sent there by the air corps, and he is a gunner on a 'B-36, on which guns are operated electrically. (Kossuth County Advance, May 8, 1951)

 

Mr. and Mrs. H, D. Clapsaddle received a phone call Monday morning anouncing the birth of a son to Tech Sgt. and Mrs. Don D. Clapsaddle at the Carswell Air Base hospital, Fort Worth, Tex. The boy has been named Jon Lee, and he has a four-year old brother Don Jr. Don, Sr., is in the air force. (Kossuth County Advance, November 27, 1951)

 

Master Sergeant and Mrs. Don Clapsaddle, with the sons Don Jr. and Jon Lee, of Fort Worth, Tex., arrived May 25. and were guests till yesterday at the H. D. Clapsaddle home. (Kossuth County Advance, June 5, 1952)

 

M. Sgt, and Mrs. Don Clapsaddle, with sons Don. Jr., and Jon Lee, of Fort Worth, Tex., arrived Saturday, That evening Don left with his father, H. D. Clapsaddle and C. C. Smith for Kettle Falls, Qnt., on a fishing trip and will be back Saturday. The Texas visitors stopped at the Pelisek home in Tama enroute here, and will leave Sunday for Fort Worth, where Don is stationed at the air base. (Kossuth County Advance, June 9, 1953)

 

One reenlistment report was received, that of M/Sgt Don D. Clapsaddle in the Air Force. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, November 30, 1954)

 

Mr and Mrs Don Clapsaddle and two boys have been visiting here at the parental, H. D. Clapsaddle's. Don, who is in the Air Force, left the first of the week for Puerto Rico where he will be stationed. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, January 24, 1956)

 

Algona From Sky, Via Puerto Rico An Algona boy, stationed in the U.S. air force in Puerto Rico, had a look at his home town from the air recently, on a B-36 training mission from Puerto Rico to Rapid City, S. D. He was Don Clapsaddle, master sergeant, son of Mr and Mrs H. D. Clapsaddle, The flight was routine, and Don had the pilot chart a course over Algona. From Rapid City the plane flew back to Puerto Rico. Don has been on Puerto Rico for two years, during which time he has flown all over the world. He carries a motorcycle in the plane where he is a gunner, and when he gets a chance he uses it to see the surrounding country, wherever he may be. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, July 4, 1957)

 

Army Honor To Don Clapsaddle RAMEY AFB. PUERTO RICO — M/Sgt. Don D. Clapsaddle, son of Mr and Mrs H. D. Clapsaddle, of Algona, 'and husband of t)u j former Miss Josephine F. Pelisek, was awarded the Commendation Ribbon during recent ceremonies at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico. A member of the 60th Bombardment Squadron where he serves as a gunner, Sgt. Clapsaddle was cited by Brigadier General W. K. Martin, 72d Bombardment Wing Commander. A graduate of Algona High School, Sgt. Clapsaddle has seen foreign service in Italy, before coming to Ramey AFB. (The Algona Upper Des Moines, October 28, 1958)

 

Master Sergeant Don D. Clapsaddle, Algona, has been awarded an engraved scroll in recognition of his services with Convair's B-36 bomber, now replaced by the eight-jet Boeing B-52 as the long-range powerhouse of the Strategic Air Command. The son of the H. D. Clapsaddles, Algona, also received an illuminated globe, world atlas and two gold pins when he completed 5,000 hours aboard the giant "Peacemaker." He flew as a tail gunner on the big bomber for ten years from Carswell AF Base, Texas, and Ramey AF Base, Puerto Rico, and has more than 7,000 flying hours to his credit. The Iowa sergeant received his scroll at Eglin AF Base, Florida, where he now serves as a radar gunner on one of the new B-52G "missile platform" bombers of the 4135th Strategic Wing. Here he flies combat-type missions in support of SAC's goal of world peace through aerospace power. Sgt. Clapsaddle was married in 1946 at Fort Worth, Texas, to Josephine Pelisek, daughter of Mr and Mrs Joe F. Peliseki-of Tama. They live in Shalimar, Fla., with their two sons, Don Jr., 12, and Jon L., 8. ' } A 1941 graduate of Algona high school, he entered the Army Air Forces in 1943. After training as an armored and aerial gunner he spent ten months as a B-17 gunner based in Foggia, Italy. (Kossuth County Advance, February 4, 1960)

 

Mrs Don Clapsaddle and two sons visited her husband's parents, the Horace Clapsaddles, last week and then returned to Tama where they had been earlier with her parents, the Joe Peliceks, former Algonians. Don was recently transferred from Eglin air force base in Florida to Griff is AFB, Rome, N. Y., and while waiting for housing to be available there Mrs Clapsaddle came to Iowa. (Kossuth County Advance, September 3, 1963)

 

Acreage Motel sold to Don Clapsaddle The H. D. Clapsaddles have sold their Acreage Motel to the son Don D. Clapsaddle. The elder Clapsaddles plan to leave soon for visits in Arkansas and Florida. Their future plans are indefinite. The Don Clapsaddles have two sons, 13 and 17 years old. He is a veteran in the air force with 23 years of service. (Kossuth County Advance, May 6, 1965)

 

Don Duane Clapsaddle, 85, took his last flight Wednesday, Jan. 7.

Mr. Clapsaddle was a native of Koussuth, Iowa, who had lived in Liberty County since 1976, having moved here from Algona, Iowa. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having retired as a master sergeant after more than 23 years of service. Mr. Clapsaddle served in World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam era, during which he received numerous awards, medals and ribbons. He was also a member of the VFW Post 2541, the American Legion Post 90, the Prudence Lodge 205, and the ABUBEKR Shrine in Sioux City, Iowa.

Survivors are his wife, Josephine "Jo" Clapsaddle of Midway; sons, Don Clapsaddle Jr. of New Iberia, La., and Jon Lee (Sandy) Clapsaddle of Manchester, Tenn.; grandson, Jody Clapsaddle; granddaughters, Wendy, Ame, Sara and Dianna Clapsaddle; and four great-grandchildren. (Obituary)

[5thwingmarty]

He served in the 2nd BG in WWII. They have a great website and you can get a list of his missions from the website.

[Reforger]

I just checked. That is very interesting! Thank you for the tip!

[Dogsbody]

That's a very nice way of presenting a dog tag. Great job!