Clare George Biddle
May 14, 1942
Flagler County has 74 men in the various branches of the armed forces at this time ..... the list up to date is as follows... CLAIRE G. BIDDLE
March 19, 1942
CADET BIDDLE IS AT TURNER FIELD
Pilot Cadet CLARE BIDDLE, son of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Biddle of Bunnell, has reported to the air corps advanced flying school at Turner Field for the final stage of training as an aviation cadet. Mr. Biddle was at his home here last weekend before reporting to Turner Field.
Located on the low rolling plains of South Georgia, Turner Field is an advanced school of the Southeast Air Corps Training Center. One of the few navigation schools in the country, according public relations officers of the field, who said that "Prepare for Combat" is the motto, Victory is the by-word."
Thursday, May 21, 1942
C. G. BIDDLE GETS HIS COMMISSION IN AIR CORPS
Pilot Cadet C. G. BIDDLE, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Biddle, of Bunnell, Florida was recently commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia, Colonel John B. Patrick, Commanding Officer.
Turner Field, an Advanced Flying School is one of a group of Air Force Bases, which composes the Southeast Air Corps Training Center. It is here that Aviation Cadets, both pilot and navigation, are sent for the final phase of training which culminates in their receiving their much coveted wings and commission as Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Forces.
August 27, 1942
FLAGLER MEN IN FOREIGN SERVICE
A number of men from Flagler county are now serving in our armed forces in foreign fields; it is believed, because several have lately notified their families that mail should be sent in care of the postmaster in New York or San Francisco.
Brady Wadsworth, Richard Tucker and Buck Durrance, Marines, present address is care postmaster. San Francisco, CLARE BIDDLE, army flyer, is being addressed care post master, New York City.
Others, whose foreign field is already known include: Ralph Harbert, New Caledonia; Virden Knox, and Franklin Thompson, England.
October 1, 1942
CLARE "BIDDIE" BIDDLE, lieutenant in the army air force in foreign service, writes that he has had "another day in London."
November 5, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Biddle received a letter this week from "BIDDIE" who was in Africa. He is now a first lieutenant in the army air corps.
November 19, 1942
In a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Biddle, Lt. CLARE BIDDLE said he had visited St. Paul’s cathedral in London; also visited Oxford University. He also related how he ran up with a fraternity brother from Southern College where - they both went to school - who is in the same branch of service Lt. Biddle is in.
December 10, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Biddle received a letter this week from "BIDDIE" who was in Africa. He is now a first lieutenant in the army air corps.
December 24, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. George Biddle got a letter this week from their son, 1st Lt. CLARE BIDDLE wishing them a merry Christmas. Clare said he was "okie-dokie." The letter was dated December 14. He was recently in North Africa.
January 21, 1943
A letter from Lt. CLARE BIDDLE from "Somewhere in North Africa" states that "some of The Tribunes have been reaching me and it is impossible to say just how much good they do to a fellow's morale. You know there is no news like news from home. Thanks just lots. I know that every man in the service appreciates your thoughtfulness.
"Well, guess I'll ring off and say G'bye. Keep up the good work at home, we'll do the same over here. Give all my friends my best. It's only through your efforts at home that Victory will come to us. I'm sure I'm right in saying that every man representing Bunnell and Flagler County appreciates what you folks are doing for us. Thanks again for The Tribune."
(O. K. Biddie. We're backing you and the others with all we've got. Our only regret is that we are too old to be "over there" with you).
March 11, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. George Biddle here had another letter from their son, Lt. CLARE BIDDLE, a few days ago. He is still flying around somewhere in North Africa. Biddie said he was getting along fine "but have to get up mighty early - and you know me Mom."
March 18, 1943
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE, in North Africa, wrote his parents that he got four Tribunes at one time recently. (Hope you fellows in other far-away places get them also.
APRIL 22, 1948
LT. C.G. BIDDLE HELPS ENTERTAIN MEN IN AFRICA
Biddle Carries the Vocals With Soldier Swing Band Group
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Biddle of Bunnell is, according to a dispatch furnished by the American Red Cross through the local chapter, not only carrying on his duties as a pilot in North Africa but is helping entertain soldiers in Africa and England.
But here's the complete story, written by newsmen in Africa and passed by censor:
ALGIERS, NORTH. AFRICA: There isn't enough space for an S.R.O. sign in the lobby of The American Red Cross club in Algiers, any Sunday afternoon, when the auditorium doors open for a swing concert by the Rhythm Commandos. Directed by Lt. Warren S. Ogletree, special service officer, of Gainesville, Florida, the Commandos are a 9 piece swing band from Group Carrier unit that packs a lot of talent.
Pile up Sgt. Rack Godwin. Pianist, from For Worth. Texas. who played for Sally Rand on tour in the states, and who does all their own arrangements; Cpl. Eddy Shaw at the drums, under study of Gene Krupa, from, Salt Lake City, Utah; saxophonist Cpl. E. J. Sweeney of Omaha. Neb.; 1st trumpeter S/Sgt. F. F. Arroyo from Needles. Calif.; and trumpeter Cpl. W. H. Van Alstyne of Sheffield, Mass,; trombone player Cpl. C. H.. Dosch of Princeton. Ind.; Cpl. J. A. Ward of Lexington. Mass., who. toured Hawaii with the Coconut Grove Revue; violinist Sgt. George Tonhofer who played with the Oriental Lodge Symphonic Orchestra in Spokane, Wash.. and Cpl. O. A. Fisher of Karnak, Ill.. at the bass viol, and you have a hand some Broadway night clubs would like to put together.
The Rhythm Commandos have been putting on entertainments in camps and troop areas in this region for the past four months, rehearsing in their spare time and traveling in anything from a plane to a bus, Near the front they played one night in a hotel in a desert oasis, and again in the back of a 2-ton truck, and once held a jam session at 5000 feet in a transport plane. Everywhere they go Lt. C. G. Biddle, pilot, of Bunnell, Florida. has been laying 'em down" with his song, “It's a Long, Long Way from Home," and some thousands of soldiers in North Africa are familiar with "Why Do You Hesitate?"
Asked about his fine band equipment. Lt. Ogletree, leader replied, "How those treasured
instruments got here is a question," Ogletree had his own band in Florida and played with Jimmy Medlonger In New York and Long Island.The Commandos give a series of musical entertainment each week on Sunday at the American Red Cross Club In Algiers.
June 3, 1943
We saw a mighty happy mother here today. She had just received from her son in North Africa a large and excellent photograph of him, and found that he looked "just grand." The mother is Mrs. G. L. Biddle and the picture is that of her son Lt. CLAIRE BIDDLE, an army pilot.
July 15, 1943
1st. Lt. CLARE BIDDLE writes to his parents here, Mr. and Mrs. George Biddle, that he has been in a hospital there several weeks with a "severe chest cold," but is now recovering satisfactorily.
July 22, 1943
Haven't heard lately whether Lt. C. G. (BIDDIE) BIDDLE is out of the hospital in Africa or not. He had pneumonia but was recovering well the last time he wrote.
July 29, 1943
A letter this week from First Lieutenant CLARE (BIDDIE) BIDDLE from North Africa. He is still in a hospital, recovering from pneumonia, but expects to be there several weeks yet. He said, however, he is anxious to "get back to flying." We hope he is by this time.
August 12, 1943
First Lieut. CLARE BIDDLE who has been in a general hospital in North Africa with pneumonia writes home that he is rapidly improving, having gained back a good deal of the weight he had lost. He also said that his mail was just catching up, getting 20 letters one day.
August 26, 1943
First a letter from Lt. CLARE BIDDLE from North Africa. Biddie has been down with pneumonia for over two months but is beginning to snap out it. He is, of course, very anxious to get back to flying again, and we hope he has by this time.
September 2, 1943
Two recent letters from Lieut. CLARE BIDDLE to his parents here say he is still in the hospital in N. Africa but is "anxious to get out and back to flying."
September 23, 1943
Just a paragraph here to say it Mrs. Biddle's son, Lieut. CLARE BIDDLE is still in a general hospital in Africa, but is convalescing satisfactorily after a rough case of pneumonia.
September 30, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. George Biddle, parents of Lieut. CLAIRE BIDDLE, who has been in a hospital in North Africa several weeks, received a telegram Tuesday stating "Biddie" is in Boston, Mass., but still in the hospital.
October 14, 1943
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE is home on a 21-day leave. He arrived recently in Boston from 14-months duty in England, Africa and other sectors. He had pneumonia and was in a hospital in Africa a couple of months. Was sent to hospital at Fort Devens, Mass. upon arrival in the States, but was allowed to come home after two weeks there. He is well on his way to recovery, although he is yet a little weak. Expects to return to Fort Devens for a check up and then - ? Anyway, all the folks here certainly are glad to see him.
October 21, 1943
LT BIDDLE TALKS AT LEGION MEET
Members of the local American post and the Auxiliary unit had as their special guest Friday night First Lieutenant C. G. BIDDLE, recently returning from the North African front. Lt. BIDDLE, in a straight, from the shoulder talk, gave many interesting incidents coupled with his 14.months overseas service while flying transport, and other type planes, in several theaters of operation.
Lieutenant Biddle contracted pneumonia and pleurisy while in Africa. He was hospitalized there several months before returning to the United States where he was allowed to visit home here after two weeks at a hospital at Fort Devens, Mass.
October 28, 1943
1st Lt. CLARE BIDDLE left here last Saturday to return to Fort Deven, Mass., where he will report for duty after a 21day leave spent here with his parents.
November 4, 1943
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE, upon reporting back to the hospital at Fort Deven, Mass., was again checked by the Medicos and found OK. He is being sent from there to a replacement center in Colorado.
November 11, 1943
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE arrived home Sunday night. He has been back to Fort Deven, Mass., for a physical checkup. The medicos told him he was fit and ready for duty, but he got a 24-day leave. Doesn't know where he will go from here - just awaiting orders.
March 2, 1944
Also a letter from Lt. C. G. (BIDDIE) BIDDLE who is with the 11th ferrying squadron out of Dallas, Texas. Biddie says: "our job consists, mainly, of delivering airplanes from the factories to the desired destinations. Get to see lots of the country, but after covering so much territory, it all seems more or less the same. Wish I could get a trip down that way, As for promotion, I'm still sweating out that captaincy.
See where Abe (Joy Deen) and Dell Brown have gone over. I know each will give a good account of himself. By the time this shooting match is over, this will be a pretty well traveled generation." (Ed Note: Biddle was in England and Africa a pretty good while flying transport planes before being returned to the U. S. and he had his share of the traveling, too)
March 16, 1944
Mr. and Mrs. George Biddle had a very pleasant surprise Sunday night with the unexpected visit of their son Lt. CLARE BIDDLE who stopped over in Daytona Beach for the night on one of his flights with Ferry Command. Lt. Biddle has been with Ferry Command since he has returned to duty after a long illness from pneumonia contracted in N. Africa. When he landed in Daytona Beach he called his parents here who went down there to see him.
April 6, 1944
Lt. CLARE BIDDLE, now a ferry pilot wrote his mother here from N. Africa, but beat his letter back to the States, wiring her from New York when he arrived. Today he wired her that he expects to fly over Bunnell today and she - and others - will have a stiff neck pretty soon if he doesn't make good on that information.
May 4, 1944
MISS TUCKER and LT. CLARE BIDDLE BETROTHED
Enlisting widespread interest in the announcement made today by Mrs. Callie Mae Hancock Tucker, of Auburn, Ala., formerly of Atlanta, of the engagement or her daughter, Gwendolyn, to First Lieutenant CLARE G. BIDDLE, United States Army Air Forces. Miss Tucker is the only daughter of her mother and Arlie D. Tucker, of Atlanta.
The bride-elect's maternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Lewis Hancock of Fitzgerald, Ga. Her paternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tucker, of Ocilla, Ga. Her only brother is Woodrow Willis Tucker, associated with Radio Station WGCM in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Miss Tucker attended the Atlanta public schools and was graduated from Girls' High School, where she took part in student activities and during her senior year was president of the Student Government Association.
She was a member of the Beta Epsilon Mu Sorority and acted as secretary for the group. At present she is a junior at Auburn Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, Ala., majoring in home economics. In her freshman year she was tapped for Dracles, the freshmen women's honorary scholastic society; she is a member of the Delta Zeta National Sorority, serving as its treasurer and was Pan-Hellenic representative in her sophomore year. She is president of the Pan-Hellenic Council of A. P. I. and is a member of the Women's Student Government Association.
The bridegroom-elect, who is now stationed at Dallas, Texas, is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Biddle, of Bunnell, Fla. His mother is the former Miss Mary Elizabeth Brown, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs., James B. Brown, of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. John P. Biddle, of Pennsylvania. His only sister is Mrs. Lawrence O. Upson of Daytona Beach, Fla.
The future bridegroom received his high school education at Bunnell, and was graduated from Florida Southern College, Lakeland, in June 1941. He is a member of the Alpha Sigma Fraternity and was its treasurer. He received his commission in the Army Air Forces on May 20, 1942, at Turner Field, Albany, Ga. The following August, he was sent on foreign duty to England and was in North Africa during the Tunisian campaign. He returned to America in September, 1943. Lieutenant Biddle is stationed at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, with the Fifth Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command.
The wedding of the couple will take place in the First Baptist Church, Auburn, Ala., the date to be announced later.
May 31, 1945
1st Lt. and Mrs. CLARE BIDDLE have been here several days visiting Lt. Biddle's parents and his friends. Mrs. Biddle was graduated from Auburn University at Auburn, Alabama last week and the couple are leaving tomorrow to return to Dallas, Texas, where Lt. Biddle is stationed with the Ferry Command.
October 11, 1945
Lt. and Mrs. CLARE BIDDLE arrived here this morning at the home of Lt. Biddle's parents. He is on his way to Drew Field, Tampa, for discharge after four years flying in the army.
October 18, 1945
CALL ME MISTER
CLARE G. BIDDLEThe above named Flagler County men are now entitled to be addressed as “Mister” instead of by any military title heretofore held...........
