Memorial Day Heroes: Clyde Parker Baugh (1920-1942)

Clyde Parker Baugh (1920-1942)

With Memorial Day on the mind, here's a glimpse into the life of an honorable man in my family line who didn't make it home alive after answering the call to serve in World War II. One of my maternal grandfather's brothers, Clyde Parker Baugh, died in 1942 in an airplane crash while serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. naval air corps.

Below is the Ogden Standard Examiner's report of his death. I've copied and pasted the article in its entirety, as it is displayed online, so please forgive typos.

A tender mercy from God stands out to me in this article — namely, that Clyde's family was blessed to see him 10 days before his death when a short furlough allowed him to come home.

Full article:

LOGAN AIRMAN DIES IN CRASH

LOGAN Aug. 31 [1942] --Lieutenant Clyde Parker Baugh, 22, of Logan, who was attached to tJie Eighty- second fighter squadron, naval air corps, San Diego, Calif., was instantly killed Sunday morning, when the U. S. army pursuit plane he was piloting crashed near San Diego.

Lieutenant Baugh was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilford F. Baugh, who were informed of the accident by telephone shortly after it happened. Details of the smash-up were not learned, but the accident happened while Baugh was on regular patrol duty. The body was not burned when the plane crashed.

At Home Recently 

Lieutenant Baugh had returned to duty 10 days ago after spending a short furlough in Logan with his parents. His father is owner of the Baugh Motor company and a prominent northern Utah business man.

Lieutenant Baugh was born in Wellsville on April 30, 1920, a son of Wilford F. and Isabelle Parker Baugh. The family moved to Logan in 1932 and he had resided here until leaving for his pilot training. He was graduated from the Logan senior high school in 1939. He received his first military training while serving as a member of the Logan unit of--the national guard. He attended Utaih State Agricultural college two years, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. While there he enrolled in CAA training, receiving flight training at the Logan-Cache airport.

Army Career

On September 30, 1941, he went to Cal-Rarero field, Ontario, Calif., for primary air corps training. He later was transferred to Luke field at Phoenix, Ariz., where he was graduated April 27, 1942. His first active duty was at Hamilton field, San Francisco, Calif., and about three months ago, he was transferred to the Eighty- second fighter squadron navy air corps, San Diego, Calif.

The body will be cremated in California and brought to Logan for funeral services and burial. Details will be announced later by the W. Loyal Hall mortuary. An officer of the squadron Lieutenant Baugh was attached to will accompany the ashes to Logan.