This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
McClusky, Clarence Wade, Jr., RADM USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Buffalo, NY
Last Address Bethseda, MD
Date of Passing Jun 27, 1976
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
For outstanding service while attached to USS ENTERPRISE, participating in raids on Marshall, Wake, Gilbert and Marcus islands and the Battle of Midway, he was awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguised Flying Cross, a letter of Commendation with Ribbon, a Ribbon and facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation to ENTERPRISE, the Purple Heart Medal and the Navy Cross.
In addition, he held the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp; the American Medal; Asiatic-Pasific Campaign Medal; World War II victory Medal; Naval Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp; China Service Medal; National Defense Medal; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; and the Korean Presidential unit Citation.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is presented to Clarence Wade McClusky, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as Air Group Commander for Air Group SIX (AG-6) on board the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6) during the Battle of Midway on 6 June 1942. On receipt of a report of an enemy Japanese invasion fleet in the area, Lieutenant Commander McClusky led his squadron of planes in a dogged and thorough search, continued until the objective was located, and attacked with boldness and determination four enemy carriers in complete disregard of heavy antiaircraft fire and strong fighter opposition. Such severe damage was inflicted on the flight decks of the Japanese carriers that they were effectively putout of action. Lieutenant Commander McClusky's courage and inspiring leadership in the face of great danger and very large opposition were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Other Memories Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay. Built on reclaimed land at the west end of Alameda Island, the site was acquired by the USAAC in 1930 but turned over to the Navy in 1936. During World War II, the USS Hornet (CV-8) was loaded with the 16 B-25s that would take part in the Doolittle Raid at NAS Alameda. After the base closed on April 25, 1997, the USS Hornet (CV-12), was given to the former air station to be used as a museum ship. As of September 2006, the Navy still owns all of the land when a $108 million purchase deal was put aside when developers Alameda Point Community Partners decided not to move forward with their redevelopment plans.
NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 (8000×200 ft) (2438×61 m) and 13-31 (7200×200 ft) (2195×61 m). Two helicopter pads and a control tower were also part of the facilities.
From 1949 to 1953, the Navy based the Lockheed Constitution?the largest airplane ever listed on the Navy inventory at NAS Alameda. The two prototypes regularly flew between nearby NAS Moffett Field and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Alameda Terminal of the First Transcontinental Railroad (California Historical Landmark #440) is located on its grounds at the Naval Air Station Mall, as is the departure point of the China Clipper (CHL #968).
The MythBusters have occasionally conducted some of their more destructive experiments in the grounds of the station, due to the extensive safety zone it affords them. For the same reason, this location has also been used as a checkpoint for the Bullrun rally race?the lengthy airstrip allowed for the staging of a challenge involving chasing a semi-trailer.
A two-mile freeway loop was constructed on the base for the filming of a lengthy car chase sequence for the movie The Matrix Reloaded. The loop cost over $1.5 million to construct and was used solely for the shooting the film's chase scenes (a seven-week long process) before it was demolished. The route is still visible on aerial photography on the former 07/26 and 13/31 runways.
