Clifford William Watson
First Lieutenant Clifford W. Watson was a Marine night fighter pilot with VMF(N)-531.
He was killed in a crash at Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, on 9 February 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-14776
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
April 23, 1915
at Vermillion, KS
Parents
Fountain Wilber Watson
Laura Benham (Granger) Watson
later Mrs. Laura Rodgers
Education
Frankfort High School
Kansas State Teacher’s College (1937)
Occupation & Employer
Public school teacher
Bigelow (KS) school district
Service Life
Entered Service
January 21, 1942 (enlisted)
November 20, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
Frankfort, KS
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Laura G. Rodgers
Military Specialty
Pilot
Personnel/Parachute Officer
Primary Unit
VMF(N)-531
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Lieutenant Clifford Watson earned his wings and commission at NATC Penscola in November 1942. Two months later, he joined Marine Night Fighter Squadron 531 at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and deployed overseas with them in the summer of 1943. A skilled flyer, he racked up fifty combat flights while campaigning in the northern Solomon Islands.
On 9 February 1944, Watson’s crew – Staff Sergeant Jack H. Shirk on the radar and Sergeant George E. Brogna manning the guns – boarded a PV-1 #33253, nicknamed “Double Trouble” for an operational flight out of Barakoma Airfield, Vella Lavella. The weather was exceptionally “heavy,” and the PV-1 only managed to gain 200 feet of altitude before it suddenly plunged towards the sea. “Double Trouble” burst into flames and sank, taking the entire crew with her. Crash boats were unable to find any trace of the remains.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Laura Rodgers.
Location Of Loss
PV-1 #33253 crashed at sea shortly after takeoff from Barakoma airfield.
