USAAF
7th AF

Crew Major General Clarance L. Tinker, O-3282)
MIA  June 7, 1942
MACR  600

General Tinker
In May 1940 Tinker was promoted to Brigadier General. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was appointed Commander of the Air Forces in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses of the islands. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he hitched a ride as a passenger on a B-17 on December 17, 1941 (reportedly aboard B-17E 41-2446) from Hamilton Field to Hawaii. In January 1942 he was advanced to Major General and commander of the 7th Air Force.

Mission History
Four LB-30s, including this one piloted by General Tinker elected to lead a force of early model B-24s against the retreating Japanese naval forces, in a predawn strike against Wake. Near Midway his plane dissapeared into clouds and was seen to go out of control and plunge into the sea. General Tinker and eight crewmen perished.

Memorial
On October 14, 1942 the Oklahoma City Air Depot was named Tinker Field in his honor. It is now Tinker Air Force Base.

Contribute Information

LB-30

MIA