MIA***MARCH 25, 1945

Never found. My uncle Clarence Edward Davis,
"Don" as we called him. An ordnance man in the Navy,
His war job gunner in a dive bomber.

His pilot and radio operator along with Don survived
over 30 sorties as sub hunters in the North Atlantic
and flew cover during the D-Day invasion at Normandy.

Shot up badly, but repaired to fly off the carrier when they
returned to Home Port, Norfolk, Va. They all enjoyed their
survivors leave, 30 days from the horrors of war.

Don spent a somewhat enjoyable leave in Lima, Ohio,
spending quality time with family and girlfriend.
As time closed, he expressed, he felt he wasn't coming home.

He shipped out on USS Natoma Bay, an escort carrier out of
San Diego. His VC-9 group was assigned to Naval Task Force 58
and fought at the Battle of Okinawa.

His plane, a TBF Avenger dive bomber, was shot down March 25, 1945,
trying to stop a torpedo run by a Japanese Val, a plane very similar to
the Avenger. A dye marker was deployed, but no survivors were found.
They were Declared MIA at war's end.

They were heroes to us, but not to themselves - they were just doing
their job, for the freedom of the world. "Rest in Peace"

Pilot LTjg. Peter Hamilton Hazzard
Narragansett, RI
ARD 1c Clarence Edward Davis
Lima/New Bremen, OH
AOC 1c William Patrick Bird
Allentown, PA

A prayer, a salute and a thank you for your sacrifice,
(I was born one month after Don left for San Diego)
(We never met; bless your memory, Uncle Don)
Robert Davis (Ardy)