Soldier Spotlight

Our quarterly Soldier Spotlight highlights  an American WWII bomber pilot.  Captain Clyde L. Woodard joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and became a B-17 pilot with the 569th Bomb Squadron, which was part of the 390th Bombardment Group.  He flew 30 bombing missions over cities in Holland, along with the German cities of Berlin, Weimar, Frankfort, Nuremberg and Dresden.  His planes were Diplomat II and Yard Bird.  He also dropped relief bundles over Holland in Operation Chowhound in May of 1945.  He was shot up many times, but never shot down.

Pictured is his personalized copy of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative History book of the 390th Bomb Group, with his name printed on the bottom cover. 

After the war, he attended Wittenberg University, where he majored in physics.  He worked at Wright Patterson AFB in research and development on infrared and reconnaissance equipment.  He retired at the rank of Major in 1980.

Enjoy!