Lt. Clinton Dillard Castleberry, Jr. was a football player in the 1940s. Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd said that if Castleberry had lived to finish his playing career hed have probably been an All-American for three years and been the greatest back in Georgia Tech history. Castleberry finished third in the Heisman trophy voting for the season, behind winner Frank Sinkwich and Paul Governali, both seniors. This was the highest a freshman had ever placed in the Heisman voting. Castleberry's number 19 is the only football jersey Georgia Tech has ever retired.
After the 1942 season was over, Castleberry enlisted in Army Air Forces and planned to return to play football at Georgia Tech after the War. Castleberry completed Army flight school training and earned his wings in the summer of 1944. He was sent to the Mediterranean Theatre in the fall. He co-piloted a B-26 Marauder bomber known as "Dream Girl" and was stationed in Africa. In the early morning hours of November 7, 1944, Lt. Castleberry took off from Roberts Field in Liberia with another B-26 to continue a ferrying run up the coast toward Dakar, Senegal. Neither of the two planes made it to their destination. An extensive six-day search involving American and British search crews was conducted. On November 23, 1944, all crew members were officially re-classified from MIA to KNB (killed, no body) after a British RAF plane observed unidentified wreckage believed to have been from the missing planes.
After the 1942 season was over, Castleberry enlisted in Army Air Forces and planned to return to play football at Georgia Tech after the War. Castleberry completed Army flight school training and earned his wings in the summer of 1944. He was sent to the Mediterranean Theatre in the fall. He co-piloted a B-26 Marauder bomber known as "Dream Girl" and was stationed in Africa. In the early morning hours of November 7, 1944, Lt. Castleberry took off from Roberts Field in Liberia with another B-26 to continue a ferrying run up the coast toward Dakar, Senegal. Neither of the two planes made it to their destination. An extensive six-day search involving American and British search crews was conducted. On November 23, 1944, all crew members were officially re-classified from MIA to KNB (killed, no body) after a British RAF plane observed unidentified wreckage believed to have been from the missing planes.
Lt. Clinton Dillard Castleberry, Jr. was a football player in the 1940s. Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd said that if Castleberry had lived to finish his playing career hed have probably been an All-American for three years and been the greatest back in Georgia Tech history. Castleberry finished third in the Heisman trophy voting for the season, behind winner Frank Sinkwich and Paul Governali, both seniors. This was the highest a freshman had ever placed in the Heisman voting. Castleberry's number 19 is the only football jersey Georgia Tech has ever retired.
After the 1942 season was over, Castleberry enlisted in Army Air Forces and planned to return to play football at Georgia Tech after the War. Castleberry completed Army flight school training and earned his wings in the summer of 1944. He was sent to the Mediterranean Theatre in the fall. He co-piloted a B-26 Marauder bomber known as "Dream Girl" and was stationed in Africa. In the early morning hours of November 7, 1944, Lt. Castleberry took off from Roberts Field in Liberia with another B-26 to continue a ferrying run up the coast toward Dakar, Senegal. Neither of the two planes made it to their destination. An extensive six-day search involving American and British search crews was conducted. On November 23, 1944, all crew members were officially re-classified from MIA to KNB (killed, no body) after a British RAF plane observed unidentified wreckage believed to have been from the missing planes.
After the 1942 season was over, Castleberry enlisted in Army Air Forces and planned to return to play football at Georgia Tech after the War. Castleberry completed Army flight school training and earned his wings in the summer of 1944. He was sent to the Mediterranean Theatre in the fall. He co-piloted a B-26 Marauder bomber known as "Dream Girl" and was stationed in Africa. In the early morning hours of November 7, 1944, Lt. Castleberry took off from Roberts Field in Liberia with another B-26 to continue a ferrying run up the coast toward Dakar, Senegal. Neither of the two planes made it to their destination. An extensive six-day search involving American and British search crews was conducted. On November 23, 1944, all crew members were officially re-classified from MIA to KNB (killed, no body) after a British RAF plane observed unidentified wreckage believed to have been from the missing planes.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Georgia.
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