MCCLURG-ROBERT

AN  ACE  OF  WORLD  WAR II

Excerpts from webpage article of Acepilots.com, “Aces of Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-214”:

“Bob McClurg was a Second Lieutenant when he joined VMF-214, he downed seven Japanese aircraft.  He was "scared to death" when he shot down his first enemy plane on September 18, 1943, passing so close after a head-to-head gunfight, that he could see the doomed pilot in his flaming cockpit.  On the Ballale strike of October 18, his engine experienced 'mag flash', a problem with the magneto and the ignition, over enemy territory.  His F4U cut out and he went down to 15,000 feet before he could re-start.  His engine still sputtering, he spotted two Zeros below him.  He was directly behind and above.  Perfect shooting position.  They never saw him, until his bullets ripped into the planes.  As McClurg was by himself for this, his squadron was reluctant to credit him with the two victories until a P-39 pilot confirmed the whole event.”

“During the first Rabaul fighter sweep, McClurg was one of only three pilots to down an enemy aircraft, and he had to break the rules to do so.  Staying in formation was a cardinal rule, so when McClurg spotted a lonely Rufe floatplane down below and swooped down to destroy it, his CO wagged his finger at McClurg. "Don't do that again" was the message.  On December 23, over Rabaul's Simpson Harbor, he became separated from his flight.  On his own in the huge melee, he got behind a Zero that had just shaken off another Corsair.  Twisting, turning, throttling back (to avoid overrunning his target), McClurg forced the Zero down onto the deck.  He opened up at 100 yards.  The shots struck home and the Zero bounced off the waves a couple times before plunging in.  As he regained altitude, two Zeros got behind him.  He sought the safety of a cloud and practically popped his eyeballs in a high-G right turn.  Coming out, the planes were in front him.  After more tortuous aerobatics, he got 150 yards behind one, and blew it up, "leaving only a big cloud of black smoke and little pieces falling.”  Five days later, McClurg claimed his seventh and last plane.”

NOTE:  Robert Wesley McClurg joined the Marine Corp platoon leaders’ course in 1939 and following graduation from Westminister College in June 1942 he entered active duty.  He was commissioned and earned his wings in January 1943.  With only 21-hours of training in fighters he was ordered to the Pacific Theater and first served there with VMF-211.  He was reassigned to VMF-214 in May 1943.  He was released from active duty on January 6, 1946, but remained in the Reserve until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He died on January 20, 2007, and in accordance with his wishes his body was donated to the University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, to benefit medical research and education.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)