{"id":1027,"date":"2017-06-01T19:42:05","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T01:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/?page_id=1027"},"modified":"2024-11-27T12:30:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T19:30:36","slug":"william-thomas-clements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/the-biographies\/william-thomas-clements\/","title":{"rendered":"William Thomas Clements"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

(Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia, February 20, 1896 \u2013 West Point, Virginia, October 12, 1952).1<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Oxford and Grantham<\/a>\u00a0 \u272f\u00a0 Scampton & Waddington<\/a>\u00a0 \u272f\u00a0 From Marske to France and the U.S. 148th Aero<\/a> \u272f\u00a0\u00a0With the U.S. 17th Aero Squadron<\/a> \u272f\u00a0\u00a0Leaving the R.A.F., heading home<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements\u2019s family had lived in the Tidewater Virginia county of Gloucester for at least five generations when William Thomas was born at the county seat, Gloucester Courthouse.2<\/a>\u00a0 His grandfather had served as a musician in the 26th<\/sup> Virginia Infantry during the Civil War before going into business as a coachmaker.3<\/a>\u00a0 Clements\u2019s father went into the related business of blacksmithing. \u00a0The family relocated from Gloucester Courthouse to West Point not long after Clements was born.4<\/a>\u00a0 After high school, Clements worked for about a year at the State Bank of West Point. \u00a0He then attended Richmond College before enrolling in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. \u00a0While studying finance he also worked at the Kensington National Bank of Philadelphia.5<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements enlisted on May 28, 1917; a month later he arrived at Columbus, Ohio, where he was enrolled in ground school at Ohio State University\u2019s School of Military Aeronautics.6<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Entries
The opening pages of Clements’s diary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Towards the end of his course there, on August 17, 1917, as Clements wrote in his diary: \u00a0\u201cThe captain announced\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. that men would not be sent to France any more, but to Italy. He asked for volunteers, and I was crazy enough to volunteer.\u201d Clements’s class<\/a> graduated August 25, 1917, and three days later he and\u00a0many of his classmates were on their way to Mineola, New York.7<\/a>\u00a0 Three weeks later, as one of the 150 men of the \u201cItalian\u201d or \u201cSecond Oxford Detachment,\u201d Clements sailed to England on the Carmania<\/i>, departing New York for Halifax on September 18, 1917, and departing Halifax on September 21, 1917.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Oxford and Grantham<\/a><\/h6>\n

The Carmania<\/i> docked at Liverpool on October 2, 1917. \u201cThere was a big disappointment today. We came straight to Oxford instead of going to Italy and understand that we have to do our ground school work over again. The boys are making an awful yell about it, and I am discouraged myself.\u201d8<\/a>\u00a0 Clements was assigned to a room in Christ Church as part of Elliott White Springs\u2019s group of cadets (as they were now called): \u00a0\u201cOur rooms are fair, but there is very little coal and I can\u2019t see how we are going to get through six weeks here without wood or coal to keep our room warm.\u201d9<\/a>\u00a0 Like most of the cadets, Clements was invited to tea at the home of Sir William and Lady Osler (\u201cLady Osler seems to be extremely courteous to the Americans\u201d).<\/p>\n

\"Entry
Clements’s diary, sightseeing and inspection by a crabby American major.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With Hugh Douglas Stier, Arthur Paul Supplee, and George Herbert Zellers, with whom he had been at ground school, he explored the country around Oxford by bicycle, despite rain.10<\/a>\u00a0 Like other cadets, he was not happy when American Major Gordon Robinson (\u201ca craby [sic<\/em>] old nut\u201d) who inspected them on October 14, 1917, insisted they purchase new uniforms at their own expense: \u00a0\u201cThere is no rule in the regulations which will support his doing such a thing but he says that we will be sent to France as mechanics unless we come across.\u201d11<\/a><\/p>\n

At the beginning of November it \u201cwas announced definitely that 130 of us would leave Saturday. To our sorrow though we hear that it is to take up a machine gun course instead of starting our flying.\u201d12<\/a>\u00a0 On November 3, 1917, Clements and most of the men departed Oxford for Harrowby Camp near Grantham in Lincolnshire. \u00a0\u201cOur arrival was rather spectacular as we had a band down to meet us and escort us up to the camp. Our real life as an officer has at last begun. \u00a0We were transferred with the standing of 1st<\/sup> lieutenants and are surely being treated as such\u201d; among the perquisites now were batmen, one for every eight men.13<\/a>\u00a0 The men began training on Vickers guns. \u00a0On November 13, 1917, word came that fifty of the men at Grantham would shortly be assigned to flying schools, but once again Clements\u2019s luck was out, and he remained at Grantham. The program of study and practice now moved on to Lewis machine guns. Clements and Supplee enjoyed a break from this when they made a weekend outing to Notthingham.14<\/a>\u00a0 Finally, the day after Thanksgiving, a \u201cletter came from London this noon saying that all of us would be posted to different R.F.C schools Monday morning. \u00a0We hate to be split up, but we certainly are glad that at last we will get some flying.\u201d15<\/a>\u00a0 The next day: \u00a0\u201cWe were actually paid today. Capt. Swan [sic<\/i>] came down from London with a suitcase full of money and gave us all a little over \u00a320 a piece.\u201d (John Warren Swann had been supply officer on the Carmania<\/i> during the voyage to England and became the disbursement officer at the American Air Service headquarters in London.)<\/p>\n

<\/a>Flight training at Scampton, Waddington, and, again, Scampton<\/a><\/h6>\n
\"A
From Foss’s list of men assigned December 3, 1917. The men going to 33<\/a> were Anker Christian Jensen, Gilbert Allan Woods, Dana Edmund Coates, Thomas Forrest McCook, George Dana Spear, Arthur Paul Supplee, William Thomas Clements, and Albert Elston Weaver.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On December 3, 1917, Clements left for Gainsborough, about thirty-five miles north of Grantham, to train with No. 33 Home Defense Squadron.16<\/a>\u00a0 That day he wrote in his diary: \u00a0\u201cWell, they didn\u2019t know what to do with us after we got up here. . . . \u00a0We were sent out here to Scampton.\u201d \u00a0A flight from No. 33 was located at Scampton, about ten miles southeast of Gainsborough, flying F.E.2b’s and F.E.2d\u2019s.16a<\/a> \u00a0Clements roomed with Supplee. \u00a0The day after arriving at Scampton, Clements wrote: \u00a0\u201cAT LAST!! I have been in the air. Went up about 2,300 feet today with one of the men here in a pusher.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of January 1918 Clements, along with Supplee and two other men, was transferred to Waddington, home to several training squadrons, and was assigned after a few days to No. 47, a \u201cRumpety\u201d squadron (the Maurice Farman Shorthorn, commonly known as a \u201cRumpty,\u201d or in Clements\u2019s case, a \u201cRumpety,\u201d was a pusher biplane much used in training at this time). \u00a0Despite bad weather, Clements had completed five hours of solo flying on February 14, 1918, noting \u201cthey have the idea that I am pretty keen on flying so I hope they send me to a scout squad.\u201d \u00a0But he remained at No. 47 and started training on a DH.6, \u201cand I must content myself with D.H.4 as a goal.\u201d17<\/a>\u00a0 However, on February 22, 1918, he learned that he was to return to Scampton to train on scouts and departed the next day. \u00a0He had soon looped an Avro, flown solo, and experienced his first (minor) crash.<\/p>\n

\"A
Clements’s C.F.S. graduation certificate, handed down in the family and now among his papers at the Virginia War Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On March 9, 1918, he moved on to flying a Sopwith Pup; by the end of the day his total solo hours on Avros and Pups was fourteen hours and twenty-five minutes. He had \u201cgraduated by both R.F.C. qualifications and ours,\u201d and was recommended for a commission.18<\/a><\/p>\n

The next day Clements enjoyed local hospitality extended to flyers, taking tea at nearby Hackthorn Hall before embarking on a week\u2019s leave, presumably graduation leave, in London. \u00a0On March 17, 1918, he was back in harness, flying Avros and Sopwith Pups; of the latter he wrote: \u00a0\u201cI am trying to get in as much time as possible on this machine as my day is coming on Camels and they are known to be tricky.\u201d19<\/a>\u00a0 And, indeed, a few days later, on March 23, 1918, he took up a Camel for the first time: \u00a0\u201cI can see France now just as plain as daylight.\u201d \u00a0Nonetheless, he still had reservations about flying Camels: \u201cThis \u2018Camel\u2019 machine is the only one yet that I am not particularly anxious to fly. \u00a0The little devils are fast as lightning and tricky as a cat.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0Flew about an hour in them today, and am glad I got off without breaking my neck. They have me scared properly.\u201d20<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements\u2019s instructor, the otherwise unidentified Major Pollard, asked him to do some ferrying (within England as it turned out, although Clements initially thought it meant going to France), which gave him more extensive experience flying Camels; shortly after his second ferrying job, he learned that his commission as a first lieutenant had come through.21<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements had clearly impressed his R.F.C. superiors. Soon after he completed his ferrying duties, he was asked whether he would be interested in serving as an instructor; the idea was initially quashed as against American regulations.22<\/a>\u00a0 However, the idea persisted, and after Clements had completed another tricky assignment, Major Pollard \u201ctold me that he would like for me to instruct, and start at once in the 11th<\/sup> sq. \u00a0This is against American orders, but instruct I will\u201d\u2014this enthusiasm, despite recent fatal Camel crashes.23<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Clements witnessed the accident that killed Stanley Huguenin, Nathan Krantinann, and B. J. Siefert on April 3, 1918: \u00a0\u201cAbout the worst crash that I have ever seen happened here today. One of our American pilots [Huguenin] was thrown out of a camel about 200 ft. up and the machine fell on a Dolphin which was being tested at the time, killing two American mechanics.\u201d \u00a0(There are photos of the crash in Clements\u2019s album.) \u00a0A little way into his time as an instructor, Clements remarked: \u00a0\u201cThis seems to be an unlucky station for Camel pilots.\u201d24<\/a>\u00a0 But he expressed regret towards the end of the month when he learned that the \u201cstation is washing out Camels, much to my sorrow, and are going to use Dolphins only. \u00a0So many men have been killed here on Camels that the entire crowd had the \u2018wind up\u2019 properly about the machine. \u00a0I was darn glad to get through my time here without accidents, but the machine is a little wonder to fly.\u201d25<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(Later diary entries indicate that, in fact, instruction on Camels continued.) \u00a0On the last day of April Clements was promoted to \u201cCommanding Officer of D Flight 11th<\/sup> [Training] Squadron,\u201d and he continued serving as an instructor through the end of May.<\/p>\n

<\/a>From Marske to France and the U.S. 148th Aero<\/a><\/h6>\n

In early June Clements was ordered to No. 2 Fighting School at Marske, where he arrived on June 15, 1918, having spent some leave time in Brighton and Edinburgh. \u00a0He was not happy with the accommodations or the course at Marske, so it was welcome news when on June 20, 1918, \u201corders came through for five American pilots (Camels).\u201d Clements, along with his flying student and friend William H. Shearman, Jr., was among those selected and left London for France on June 23, 1918. \u00a0\u201cThis is rather phenomenal, starting this diary one year ago tomorrow and reaching France exactly one year from the day I entered the army. \u00a0Everything is unusual now so we must expect anything.\u201d \u00a0He was disappointed on arrival at the Rang-du-Fliers camp to find that it was not a squadron but a pilots pool. \u00a0On June 29, 1918, Clements wrote in his diary that \u201cSherman [sic<\/i>] was posted today to No. 17 American sq. \u00a0I hated to see him go as we had become quite good friends. We were trying to get to the same sq. but it was no use.\u201d \u00a0Three days later: \u201c[Oscar] Mandel, Galbreth [sic<\/i>; sc. Thomas M. Galbreath], some other Americans and myself were posted today to No. 148th<\/sup> American squadron.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0We were all pleased to hear it and hope to get away as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

On July 3, 1918, Clements finally arrived at the 148th<\/sup> Aero Squadron, to be followed the next day by fellow second Oxford detachment members Marvin Kent Curtis, Lynn Humphrey Forster, John Hurtman Fulford, and Walter Burnside Knox. \u00a0Springs, who had been transferred from No. 85 Squadron R.A.F., and Field Eugene Kindley, who had been with No. 65 R.A.F., had arrived at the 148th<\/sup> a few days previously.26<\/a>\u00a0 The 148th<\/sup>, stationed at Cappelle Airdrome near Dunkirk, was, along with the 17th<\/sup>, American in personnel, but stationed on the British Front and under the tactical command of the R.A.F. until very late in the war when they moved south to the American Front.<\/p>\n

Clements had his first unofficial \u201clook at the lines\u201d on July 7, 1918. The morning of July 10, 1918, he went on his first regular patrol, flying with B flight, temporarily commanded by Harry\u00a0Jenkinson, Jr. (Springs, the nominal leader, was recovering from a crash), and the next day Clements had his first encounter with anti-aircraft fire once the patrol reached Bruges. \u00a0Flights over the lines continued, weather permitting, sometimes for the purpose of escorting bombers from No. 211 Squadron R.A.F. \u00a0By August 1, 1918, Springs was able to take command of his flight again, and Clements ceased being deputy flight leader.27<\/a><\/p>\n

On August 11, 1918, the 148th<\/sup> moved from the relatively quiet Nieuport-Ypres Front south to Allonville, near Amiens, and was attached to the British Fourth Army, operating on the front from Albert to Roye. On this much more active front the danger was less the anti-aircraft fire than the many enemy planes, and Clements experienced his first air combat.<\/p>\n

\"A
Part of a report on the 148th’s first low bombing raid, from Taylor, A History of the 148th Aero Squadron. Clements’s diary as well as other documents suggest the report should be dated August 23, 1918.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A week later, the squadron moved once again, north to Resmaisnil, in the vicinity of Doullens, and was attached to the British Third Army, commanded by General Sir Julian Byng, which was preparing for its drive towards Cambrai. \u00a0The threat of having to do dangerous low-ground strafing and bombing hung over the squadron, but initially Clements did regular patrols with Springs and B flight. \u00a0However, on August 23, 1918, \u201cour [bad] dreams came true. We had two patrols of low straffing,\u201d and low strafing continued over the next days.<\/p>\n

On August 26, 1918, despite bad weather and strong east winds, and apparently unaware that the Germans had moved in air squadrons to support their troop withdrawal, \u201cthe colonel of the wing took it upon himself to send us out on another ground straffing expedition.\u201d28<\/a>\u00a0 The 17th<\/sup> Aero flew out to support the 148th<\/sup> and were attacked by a large number of enemy aircraft; six men from the 17th<\/sup> did not return. Clements\u2019s account of the disastrous encounter reads in part:<\/p>\n

One of our boys, Seibold, has not returned, and as I saw eight Fokkers get on a camel, I am afraid Seibold went down. 17th<\/sup> went after the 8 Fokkers and were jumped on by 15 more, making a total of 23 Fokkers and 11 camels. There was a strong wind blowing over Hunland and the fight worked east, of course. Several machines went down. Six of 17th<\/sup> have not returned and the worst is feared for them. The Flight commander made a bad mistake by following the first bunch of Huns over, and the other Huns shot them up.<\/p>\n

Clements himself had to turn back after getting very close to an enemy plane when \u201cboth guns stopped. I was going straight down on him and had to pull out to keep from having a mid-air crash. Of course, my guns put me out of the scrap. What I told the gunnery men should not be said in the best regulated families.\u201d29<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>With the U.S. 17th Aero Squadron<\/a><\/h6>\n

Seibold had been in line for leave; now Clements\u2019s leave was moved up, and in the course of the day (August 27,<\/span>\u00a0 1918) he was told he could depart the next day.<\/p>\n

\"A
This note from Morton Lewis Newhall was among Clements’s papers that were handed down in the family and that are now at the Virginia War Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That evening, however, he was told that instead of going on leave, he was to be transferred to the 17th<\/sup> Aero Squadron: \u00a0\u201cThey have lost quite a lot of men lately and sent out a call.\u201d \u00a0Moreover, he was to take over C flight, whose leader, his fellow second Oxford detachment member Lloyd Andrews Hamilton, had been killed August 24, 1918. \u00a0\u201cI did not know whether to be sorry or glad. The idea of leaving 148th<\/sup> was distasteful but was offset by the promotion.\u201d30<\/a>\u00a0 Clements arrived at his new squadron, stationed at Auxi-le-Ch\u00e2teau, also in the vicinity of Doullens and also attached to General Byng\u2019s Third Army, on August 28, 1918, and soon found that \u201cI am falling into this F.C.\u2019s job more or less naturally because I officiated in that capacity at Scampton.\u201d31<\/a><\/p>\n

On September 2, 1918, Clements wrote that \u201cI was cursing my luck for having to leave 148th<\/sup> sq. and come to 17th<\/sup>. \u00a0That change, coming when it did, saved my life. I came over only about four days ago, and yesterday the old flight I was in, with the exception of one man, was completely wiped out. \u00a0Springs, the Flight Commander, was the only one to return out of a flight of four. \u00a0Mandel, Forster, [Johnson D.] Kenyon, were shot down, and I probably would have been also had I remained with 148th<\/sup> three days longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

On September 5, 1918: \u00a0\u201cWe started balloon line patrols.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0On our patrol this morning we saw plenty activity. Huns were chasing our fellows back about as fast as they would go over the line. \u00a0The Huns are on the offensive around here now and we can\u2019t exactly make them out. \u00a0It must be a circus of some kind because they have all kinds of machines mixed up among them. \u00a0Nearly every squadron on the front now has lost a bunch of men on account of these new Huns coming up here. \u00a0Our line is steadily advancing beyond Bapaume and towards Cambrai. \u00a0Here\u2019s hoping they soon take Cambrai.\u201d<\/p>\n

On September 9, 1918, he wrote that \u201cinstead of regular offensive patrols we do wireless interception. That means that one flight at the time goes up to an advanced landing ground outside of Bapaume and awaits wireless calls for attack on two-seaters coming down the lines.\u201d \u00a0But bad weather prevented their carrying out this kind of work until September 13, 1918, when \u201cI had the pleasure of leading my new flight on Huns. \u00a0We caught two about on the lines. \u00a0[Howard] Knotts put in for one and if the other got back he was lucky.\u201d \u00a0Four days later, on September 17, 1918, returning from patrol, Clements\u2019s flight was involved in a scrap with eleven enemy planes, and he \u201chelped a Fokker down to his aerial grave\u201d; this was the first of his two confirmed victories.<\/p>\n

\"Typed
Clements’s combat report for September 24, 1918, as it appears in Clapp’s A History of the 17th Aero Squadron (1918). The map reference (51b.R.14.a.) locates the victory about sixteen miles east of Arras and about one and a half miles east of “Arieux” (sc. Arleux). (I assume there is a typo–E for R–in the second map reference; 51b.E.14.a would be just southwest of Douai.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 17th<\/sup> Aero moved to Soncamp aerodrome, about fifteen miles east of Auxi-le-Ch\u00e2teau and still in the vicinity of Doullens, on September 20, 1918.32<\/a>\u00a0 \u201cI have packing down to a science and can move at a minute\u2019s notice.\u201d33<\/a>\u00a0 During this period, according to squadron member and historian, Frederick Mortimer Clapp, \u201cover and over again, as the battle for Cambrai progressed, our patrols met and made sallies at a large formation of blue-tailed Fokkers.\u201d33a<\/a> On September 22, 1917, the 17th<\/sup> engaged with them and shot down four of the over thirty enemy airplanes; Clements remarks \u201cI got in some good shots at some of the Fokkers.\u201d \u00a0Two days later, there was a similar scrap:<\/p>\n

Each day we think we have seen the worst fight. \u00a0The climax was reached this morning when the worst yet happened. Some people think that Huns can\u2019t scrap. \u00a0Well, I thought they couldn\u2019t either until I ran into the best scrapper this morning I have ever seen, including allied and Hun. \u00a0Our regular patrol was around 10 o\u2019clock and I was on top as the protecting flight when we met a bunch of Huns. \u00a0They went down and I went down after them. \u00a0It was a darn good crowd and you had to fight. \u00a0I fought one bird from 6,000 feet to the ground. \u00a0I used every possible maneuver I have ever learned but he could do them all as well and better than I could. \u00a0Around and around we went, until I was absolutely on the carpet. \u00a0I had just gotten a good burst into him when another Hun got on my tail. \u00a0I don\u2019t think my burst went wild that time because when I had a chance to look again there was a Fokker on his back right beneath me. \u00a0I claimed him, of course. \u00a0All of our boys returned and four of the Huns did not.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0My machine was all shot to pieces. Explosives had hit all round me. I was darn lucky to get out alive. \u00a0Knotts shot one Hun off my tail and probably saved my life.34<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements\u2019s effort on September 22, 1918, was designated \u201cindecisive,\u201d but his claim for the Fokker on the 24th<\/sup> was confirmed.35<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Typed
Clements’s combat report for September 24, 1918, as it appears in Clapp’s A History of the 17th Aero Squadron (1918). The map reference (57c.E.27.b.) locates the victory about six miles west of Cambrai.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On September 25, 1918, Clements noted that the \u201ccircus seems to have parted these parts. \u00a0We don\u2019t see anything of them now. I suppose they are taking a rest.\u201d \u00a0On the 27th<\/sup>: \u00a0\u201cThe big bunch of Fokkers seem to have disappeared all of a sudden, and we have not seen anything of them for days now.\u201d \u00a0Clements put in four days of \u201clow work,\u201d dropping bombs in the vicinity of Cambrai on September 27, 28, and 29 and October 1, 1918.36<\/a>\u00a0 Then he had leave, which he spent in London, staying there until about the 20th<\/sup> and palling around with Supplee. \u00a0On rejoining his squadron he found that Knotts from his flight had been taken prisoner, and that the \u201csquadron has dwindled to 12 pilots and there doesn\u2019t seem to be much of a chance of getting any more. Both 148 and 17 are going to pieces now and will take a lot of rebuilding.\u201d37<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Leaving the R.A.F., heading home<\/a><\/h6>\n

On October 28, 1918, the \u201cnews has come through officially that we are to move south\u201d to the American sector. \u00a0On November 1, 1918, they began the journey, by slow train, arriving, finally, near Toul on November 4, 1918. \u00a0Clements was pleased with the quarters he was to share with fellow second Oxford detachment member Weston Whitney Goodnow, and with the news that they were to fly Spads. \u00a0On November 7, 1918, he writes with awareness that the end of the war is imminent, and with jubilation on the 11th<\/sup>. Commemorative photos<\/a> were taken of squadrons at Toul.<\/p>\n

Clements wrote in his diary on November 26, 1918, that \u201cCapt. Eckert has recommended me for the D.S.C.\u00a0.\u00a0. . and a captaincy.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0I was offered command of a squadron last night but refused. \u00a0I thought the thing over pretty thoroughly and decided that so long as I was getting out of the service anyway it would be best for me to get home just as soon as possible.\u201d38<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements\u2019s exceptional ability was also noted higher up the chain of command. In a memo<\/a> dated December 12, 1918, Frank Purdy Lahm, Chief of the U.S. Second Army Air Service, of which the 17th was now part, singled him out, along with Jesse Campbell, as among \u201cthe best types of pilots.\u201d38a<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements was able to sail home on March 7, 1919, leaving from St. Nazaire on the U.S.S. Dakotan<\/i>; his shipmates included the C.O. of the 17th<\/sup> Aero Squadron, Samuel B. Eckert and Jesse Frank Campbell.39<\/a>\u00a0 In November Clements married his sweetheart, Edulia Price, who had given him his diary when he started ground school and had waited for him through the war.40<\/a><\/p>\n

At the end of the typescript of Clements\u2019s diary he has included a page that describes the staffing of the 17th<\/sup> and 148th<\/sup> squadrons, followed by some statistics. \u00a0He remarks that \u201cboth squadrons had over 100% replacements. There were only about 3 pilots in 148th<\/sup> and 3 in 17th<\/sup> who lasted from the beginning through to the Armistice. \u00a0I was told that 96 of our original detachment of 200 were either killed in training or on the front. A good many others were permanently injured.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. \u00a0Considerable loss of life could have been prevented by the use of parachutes and no one seemed to know why we were never equipped with them.\u201d41<\/a><\/p>\n

Clements returned to banking, initially in Virginia, then with the Federal Reserve Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was managing director prior to his retirement in 1946.42<\/a><\/p>\n

mrsmcq June 2, 2017<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Notes<\/h3>\n

(For complete bibliographic entries, please consult the list of\u00a0works and web pages cited<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\n

1<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0For his place and date of birth, see \u201cWilliam Thomas Clements.\u201d For his place and date of death, see Ancestry.com, Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014<\/i>, record for William Thomas Clements. \u00a0The photo is a detail from a group photo<\/a> of Squadron 7 taken by Frank Hager Haskett at Ohio State University on August 15, 1917<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See the postings by Clements\u2019s daughter, Marjorie Kidd, at \u201cWilliam Clements (Clemmons).\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See \u201cGloucester Woman\u2019s Club\u201d on Eli T. Clements (William Thomas\u2019s grandfather).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0On William Thomas Clements\u2019s father, see Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census<\/i>, record for Ed I Clements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See \u201cWilliam Thomas Clements.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, August 7 and June 27, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGround School Graduations [for August 25, 1917]\u201d; Clements, diary, August 28, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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8<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, October 2, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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9<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, October 3, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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10<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, October 7, 9, and 11, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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11<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, October 14 and 15, 1917; Foss, diary, October 13, 1917, identifies the major.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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12<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, November 1, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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13<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, November 3 and 4, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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14<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, November 17 and 18, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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15<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, November 30, 1917.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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16<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Foss, Papers, \u201cCadets of Italian Detachment Posted Dec 3rd<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

16a<\/strong><\/a> See Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force<\/em>, p. 401, on the planes flown by No. 33 Squadron.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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17<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, February 18, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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18<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, March 9, 1918; Pershing forwarded the recommendation on March 18, 1918; see cablegram 745-S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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19<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, March 19, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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20<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, March 24, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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21<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, March 26\u201330, 1918, on ferrying; April 2, 1918 on his commission. \u00a0Cablegram 985-R, dated, March 26, 1918, indicated the appointment was made; as usual, some days elapsed before the man commissioned was informed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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22<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, April 4, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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23<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, April 13, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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24<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, April 20, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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25<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, April 29, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

26<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See the roster of officers of the 148th<\/sup> on pp. 61-63 of Taylor, A History of the 148th<\/sup> Aero Squadron<\/em>.\u00a0 Details of Clements\u2019s activities with operational squadrons are taken from his diary. \u00a0Information about the 148th<\/sup> Aero is taken from Taylor, A History of the 148th<\/sup> Aero Squadron<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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27<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, August 1, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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28<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary entry for August 26, 1918. It was apparently Lt. Col. Patrick Henry Lyon Playfair who gave this order; see Skelton and Williams, Lt. Henry R. Clay<\/i>, p. 108. \u00a0See Reed and Roland, Camel Drivers<\/i>, p. 80, on the German squadrons moved towards this part of the front, and Chapter 7 for an extended description of the fatal encounter on August 26, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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29<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0This quotation and the preceding are from Clements\u2019s diary, August 26, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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30<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0This quotation and the preceding are from Clements\u2019s diary, August 27, 1918<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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31<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, August 30, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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32<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clapp, A History of the 17th<\/sup> Aero Squadron<\/i>, p. 45.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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33<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, September 19, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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33a<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 Clapp, A History of the 17th Aero Squadron<\/em>, p. 49. The blue-tail Fokkers were probably planes of Jagdstaffel 36, which was stationed at Aniche at this time. See \u201cBlue-tail Fokkers, Sept. 24, 1918.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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34<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, September 24, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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35<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clapp, A History of the 17th<\/sup> Aero Squadron<\/i> (1918), pp. 77 and 108.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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36<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See bombing reports in Clapp, A History of the 17th<\/sup> Aero Squadron<\/i>, pp. 106-22.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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37<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, summary entry for October 2\u201319, 1918.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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38<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0I have not found a record of his being awarded the D.S.C.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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38a<\/strong><\/a> \u201cList of Officers Who Have Demonstrated Exceptional Ability,\u201d p. 312.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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39<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939<\/i>, record for William T Clements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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40<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, diary, July 5, 1917. Ancestry.com, New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937<\/i>, record for Wm T Clements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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41<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Clements, \u201cWorld War Diary of W. T. Clements 1917-1918,\u201d p. 104. The number of men from the two detachments killed was actually about forty-four.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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42<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWilliam Thomas Clements\u201d; \u201cWilliam T. Clements.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia, February 20, 1896 \u2013 West Point, Virginia, October 12, 1952).1 Oxford and Grantham\u00a0 \u272f\u00a0 Scampton & Waddington\u00a0 \u272f\u00a0 From Marske to France and the U.S. 148th Aero \u272f\u00a0\u00a0With the U.S. 17th Aero Squadron \u272f\u00a0\u00a0Leaving the R.A.F., heading home Clements\u2019s family had lived in the Tidewater Virginia county of Gloucester for at least … Continue reading “William Thomas Clements”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1588,"parent":30,"menu_order":25,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1027","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1027"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8949,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027\/revisions\/8949"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parr-hooper.cmsmcq.com\/2OD\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}