WASHINGTON –
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Clarence E. Gibbs, 21, killed during World War II, was accounted for March 24, 2025.
In late 1944, Gibbs was assigned to 368th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group, 1st Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force. On December 29, Gibbs, a top turret gunner onboard a B-17G “Flying Fortress” went missing in action when his plane was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire while on a bombing mission to Bingen, Germany. All crewmembers were able to bail out of the aircraft, and only one airman was found dead by German forces near the crash site. Five men were captured and processed into the German prisoner of war (POW) camp system, ultimately surviving the war. Gibbs and two other crewmembers were unaccounted for, and there was no record of them being held as POWs.
This is an initial release. The complete accounting of Gibbs's case will be published once the family receives their full briefing.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the DPAA website at or on social media at , , , or .