Home > United States of America > Kansas > Johnson County > Overland Park > Pleasant Valley Cemetery > SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife

SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife

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Birth	:	28 Feb 1922 Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	8 Oct 1943 Bellingwolde, Bellingwedde Municipality, Groningen, Netherlands
Burial	:	Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.8382988, -94.6952972
Description	:	Clay E. Rife was the tail gunner on the B-17 crew of pilot J. Raymond Gormley's B17F-50-DL EP-H "Marie Helena" 100BG 351BS The plane was rammed by a Focke-Wulf 190. The wreckage fell over a wide area near Bellingwolde, 28 miles east of Groningen, Holland at 15.30 hrs. Most bodies were burnt to the third degree. Lt. Gormley and Lt. Fox, t/sgt Von Seggern and t/sgt Mc Phee and s/sgt Presley were buried in the Protestant churchyard at Bellingwolde. Lt. Motta, Lt. Heath , s/sgt Hilton, s/sgt Avery Jr and s/sgt Rife were buried on 18 October 1943 in the... Read More	Clay E. Rife was the tail gunner on the B-17 crew of pilot J. Raymond Gormley's B17F-50-DL EP-H "Marie Helena" 100BG 351BS The plane was rammed by a Focke-Wulf 190. The wreckage fell over a wide area near Bellingwolde, 28 miles east of Groningen, Holland at 15.30 hrs. Most bodies were burnt to the third degree. Lt. Gormley and Lt. Fox, t/sgt Von Seggern and t/sgt Mc Phee and s/sgt Presley were buried in the Protestant churchyard at Bellingwolde. Lt. Motta, Lt. Heath , s/sgt Hilton, s/sgt Avery Jr and s/sgt Rife were buried on 18 October 1943 in the nearby Lutheran cemetery at Leer, Germany. S/sgt Presley's body was found a week later in canal. The German pilot survived because his FW exploded and he was thrown from the plane. Top Turret gunner Sgt John Ehlen on Piccadilly Lily reported " the FW 190 crashed into the left wing root. Gormley had been flying a wing position and the whole formation was in a flat turn. The FW 190 passed over our wing and crashed into the B-17 (Marie Helena) on the turn". Walter "Chief" Moreno flying nearby in Messie Bessie noted " Red nose FW 190 crashed into ship #386 and both went down in flames 20 miles SE of Emden" The shattered remains of Marie Helena crashed near Bellingwolde, Friesland."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife's memorial?
SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife's memorial is located at: Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Overland Park, Johnson County, USA.
When did SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife death?
SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife death on 8 Oct 1943 in Bellingwolde, Bellingwedde Municipality, Groningen, Netherlands
Where are the coordinates of the SSGT Clay Edgar “Duff” Rife's memorial?
Latitude: 38.8382988
Longitude: -94.6952972

Family Members:

Parent

Clay Martin Rife

(1895 - 1956)

Ethel B. Linder Rife

(1898 - 1971)

Spouse

Siblings

James L Rife

(1919 - 1987)

Frances A Anderson

(1920 - 1997)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8382988, -94.6952972

2. Williams Family Cemetery
Olathe, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8603000, -94.7230100

3. Tomahawk Cemetery
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8869019, -94.6675034

4. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8838900, -94.7330100

5. Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden
Leawood, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8798100, -94.6413300

6. Aubry Cemetery
Aubry, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7817001, -94.6707993

7. Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens
Olathe, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8758011, -94.7602005

8. Overland Park 9/11 Memorila
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9027040, -94.6830840

9. Woodland Cemetery
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8114014, -94.6119003

10. Bryant Cemetery
Belton, Cass County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8161011, -94.5975037

11. Bartleson Burying Ground
Kansas City, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8489700, -94.5877400

12. Johnson County Chapel and Memorial Gardens
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9230995, -94.6686020

13. Davis Burying Ground
Martin City, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8756256, -94.5937119

14. Klapmeyer Cemetery
Kansas City, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8777200, -94.5891200

15. Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery
Olathe, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8410988, -94.8150024

16. New Santa Fe Cemetery
New Santa Fe, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9071007, -94.6054993

17. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Martin City, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9014015, -94.5911026

18. Olathe Memorial Cemetery
Olathe, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8961983, -94.8170013

19. Bucyrus Cemetery
Bucyrus, Miami County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7206200, -94.7229000

20. Valley View Columbarium and Memorial Garden
Overland Park, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9579200, -94.6838010

21. Saint Peter's Episcopal Church Columbarium
Kansas City, Jackson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9266130, -94.5905100

22. Queen of the Holy Rosary Cemetery
Wea, Miami County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7147720, -94.6647770

23. Belton Cemetery
Belton, Cass County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8017006, -94.5366974

24. Linwood Pioneer Cemetery
Leawood, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9571000, -94.6271300