The 11th Bomb Squadron says goodbye to a dear friend

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Greg Steele
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana --  War, and the brutality of it, was something Claude had struggled with since the day he was liberated from a German prison camp, and often in his dreams, he would struggle to get out of a burning B-24, fighting his way to an open hatch, finally bailing out and waking to find himself on the floor.

But now, for Claude, the war is finally over.

A cherished member of the 11th Bomb Squadron was laid to rest on Oct. 23, 2014, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Claude McCrocklin, a World War II B-24 bombardier and Prisoner of War, passed away at the age of 93 after a lengthy illness.

McCrocklin was an adopted member of the 11th BS and made regular visits to talk with Airmen and attend special events.

"It was great to watch him share his experiences during World War II with our young officers," said Lt. Col. Heath Wharton, former 11th Bomb Squadron commander. "His story is what movies are made from."

McCrocklin enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 after hearing about the death of his cousin on the U.S.S. Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was trained as a bombardier on B-24 Liberator bombers, and served in the 15th Air Force in North Africa and Italy until he was shot down over Yugoslavia in April 1944.

After bailing out of the doomed B-24, McCrocklin was eventually captured by the German Army and spent the remainder of the war in a German prison camp.

"Claude was a remarkable example of the faith, strength, and endurance of the Greatest Generation.  He brought to life all those stories about depression-era hardships, the determination of our country in World War II, and the trials of the bomber airmen over the skies of Europe," said Wharton. "He was a real living legend--a sterling example of where we've been as a nation. and a true hero to all of us at Barksdale Air Force Base. I am eternally grateful for the short time I was able to spend with him."