1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, RCAF/USAAF

Discussions related to researching soldiers of the second world war.
Post Reply
georgetanksherman
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:53 pm
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
Commendations: 19
Contact:

1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, RCAF/USAAF

Post by georgetanksherman » Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:04 pm

Always like sharing info, while researching Americans that joined the RCAF in WW II, I found this Fallen Warrior and thought I would share.

1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, born in Montreal West, Canada

Joined the RCAF in 1940 and began flight training at Regina and Price Albert, Saskatchewan, where he received his wings, upon graduation, he was sent to Dauphin, Manitoba as an Instructor, he applied for and was discharged from the RCAF May 30, 1942.

He crossed the border to the U.S. and joined the USAAF, and after completion of training was sent overseas and assigned to USAAF 335th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group flying B-17's. On May 21,1943 he was on a bombing mission to Germany in B-17 42-3110 when the aircraft was hit by flak over Dollart Bay, in between the Netherlands and Germany, the aircraft was last seen in a controlled decent, 2 chutes were seen to leave the aircraft as a Bf-109 gave chase. The aircraft crashed near Groningen, Netherlands, 4 other crew members were able to get out prior to the crash, all 6 were captured and became P.O.W.'s, 4 of the crew were K.I.A. Pilot: 1st Lt Schnebly, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt George Miller, Flight Eng: Tsgt Phil Auld and Waist Gnr: Ssgt Chas Craig.

May they R.I.P. and ALWAYS be Remembered !
These users commended the author georgetanksherman for the post:
Temujin (Tue Dec 14, 2021 5:35 pm)

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: 1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, RCAF/USAAF

Post by Temujin » Tue Dec 14, 2021 5:39 pm

MOST OF THE INFO BELOW FROM FOLD3.COM
9E640269-5A5B-4745-A494-C58DDBB32784.jpeg
9E640269-5A5B-4745-A494-C58DDBB32784.jpeg (365.61 KiB) Viewed 3142 times
3DE6E3D6-3B4D-42ED-A4D9-EC8BA6548943.jpeg
3DE6E3D6-3B4D-42ED-A4D9-EC8BA6548943.jpeg (135.53 KiB) Viewed 3142 times
22D8298B-3A7F-46AB-B139-D01C7C8E59DA.jpeg
22D8298B-3A7F-46AB-B139-D01C7C8E59DA.jpeg (203.52 KiB) Viewed 3142 times
96818B2A-109D-4A35-B0E1-027A214DB7CC.jpeg
96818B2A-109D-4A35-B0E1-027A214DB7CC.jpeg (75.39 KiB) Viewed 3140 times

Clarence Dexter Schnebly Story

Clarence Dexter “Buddy” Schnebly was born on 10 April 1912 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was the son of Clarence Dexter and Frances Matilda Watson Schnebly. His father was born in New Jersey and his mother in New York. Clarence Sr was working in 1908 in Montreal as an executive with the Northern Electric Company. Buddy had three sisters.

He attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, from 1930 to 1932 where he was studying engineering.

The family lived in Montreal, Canada. Buddy joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 19 July 1940. He received his wings at Camp Bordon, Ontario on 12 February 1941. When the family moved to Canada and Buddy entered the armed service of Canada, he lost his American citizenship. He was repatriated on 13 October 1942.

He transferred to the US Army Air Corps in the Spring of 1942 and was assigned duty with a Bomber Group. He was Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington before being stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. He arrived overseas on 26 April 1943.

The Spokane Chronicle reported on 23 January 1943 the following news: Honor Bride-Elect Monday Evening with Party

Mrs. Mary F. Kuhlman, S8261/2 Monroe, announces the forthcoming marriage of her daughter, Miss Ruth Kuhlman, to Lieutenant Dexter Schnebly, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Schnebly, Montreal, Quebec.

Miss Kuhlman and her mother will be leaving next Saturday morning for Rapid City, S. D., where the ceremony will be performed the first part of February. Mrs. Kuhlman will attend her daughter.

Bride-Elect Popular

A graduate of North Central high school, the future bride belonged to Beta Delta Gamma social club and Vox Puellarum, high school club. She has been employed with the Big West Oil company and belongs to the Spokane Little Theater, and has been active in the Flying Squadron as a lieutenant in the flight B Group.

Lieutenant Schnebly, who was stationed at Geiger field before being transferred to South Dakota, attended McGill University in Montreal. He was with the Royal Canadian air force before joining the United States air force. His best man will be Captain David T. McKnight.

Miss Kuhlman will be honored at a party Monday evening at the L. R. Hawley home, S2021 Stevens, by a group of the Big West Oil company employees.

Miss Jean Weiler has arranged a no-hostess dinner party for Tuesday evening at the B. P. O. K. club honoring Miss Kuhlman, and Miss ruby Anderson will entertain Thursday at her home, N2424 Kalispel.

On 16 February 1943 The Rapid City Journal reported the following: Lt. Schnebly Weds Miss Ruth Kuhlman

On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 2, at the group chapel, Lt Dexter Schnebly, handsome pilot of the McKnight mob, married the former Miss Ruth Kuhlman, Spokane, Washington, with Chaplain George Myers officiating.

Refreshments were served at the Officer’s club before the wedding and the reception at the Lincoln Borglum ranch was sensational: something the group will long remember.

Maj. McKnight was the best man and Capt. Dick Hamilton gave the bride away. She was attended by her mother, Mrs. Mary S. Kuhlman.

The ceremony was enhanced by the singing of Miss Helen Rydos, accompanied by Pvt. Nathan Bindler on the violin and Corp. Janius at the organ.

The Rapid City Journal reported on 6 February 1943-Soldier Wed at Base Chapel

Miss Ruth F. Kuhlman, daughter of Mrs. Mary S. Kuhlman, Spokane, Washington, and Lt Dexter C. Schnebly, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Schnebly, Montreal, Que., Canada were married at the Rapid City army air base Tuesday, with the Rev. George Nyers, chaplain of the 95th bombardment group, officiating.

The bride was attired in a simple woolen suit of powder blue and wore a corsage of gardenias and sweet peas. She was given in marriage by Capt. R. L. Hamilton, with her mother as her only attendant. Major Davis t. McKnight was best man. The chapel was decorated with jonquils and chrysanthemums and music included vocal solos by Miss Helen Rydos.

Following the wedding a reception was held at the ranch of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Borglum, where a buffet supper was served and guests were entertained by numbers by Miss Rydos and the 95th bombardment group glee club. The event was held in the late Gutzon Borglum’s large living room, with his marble head, “Phyllis,” as a centerpiece. The cake was cut with a six-foot crusader sword. Lt and Mrs. Schnebly are spending a few days at the Borglum ranch.

Mrs. Schnebly was well known in the Spokane younger set, where she was active in soldiers’ welfare work, Little Theater and “Flying Squadron.” Lt Schnebly attended McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and was with the Royal Canadian Air Force before joining the United States army air corps.

Guests at the ceremony and the reception included Col. Alfred Kessler, Jr., commanding officer of the 95th group, members of the group, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Chiles and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Collins, Rapid City, to a total of about 60 persons.

On 21 May 1943 he was the pilot on B-17 #42-3110 with the with 335th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy. The plane was on a bombing raid of the Emden, Germany Submarine Base. The plane was seen to be hit by flak over Dollard Bay, south of Emden. The plane was shot down by Leutnant Horst Grimm of the 2./JG 27, flying a Bf 109 G-4 from Leeuwarden airfield.

The aircraft was last seen about five miles west of Jemgum at 8,000 feet, under control but going down. It was reported to have been followed by an enemy ME 109. Four of the crew were killed. Six of the crew survived but became prisoners of war. Two parachutes were seen to leave the ship. The plane crashed at Dreilborg-25 Miles West of Groningen, Netherlands.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Ruth Kuhlman Schnebly married Lt. W. Lamont Barners Jr. on 1 December 1945 in Spokane, Washington.

1Lt Clarence Dexter Schnebly was awarded the following commendations: ★ Purple Heart ★ United States Aviator Badge ★ World War II Victory Medal ★ American Campaign Medal ★ Army Presidential Unit Citation and the ★ Army Good Conduct Medal.


Rapid City Journal
Rapid City, South Dakota
06 Feb 1943, Sat • Page 5
64ADCA65-478C-4C74-B813-A89B9B33B693.jpeg
64ADCA65-478C-4C74-B813-A89B9B33B693.jpeg (276 KiB) Viewed 3144 times


The Gazette
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
20 May 1944, Sat • Page 3
8ED5E488-BCDF-49E9-8725-55BB88AC9E3B.jpeg
8ED5E488-BCDF-49E9-8725-55BB88AC9E3B.jpeg (174.52 KiB) Viewed 3144 times

georgetanksherman
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 673
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2018 10:53 pm
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
Commendations: 19
Contact:

Re: 1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, RCAF/USAAF

Post by georgetanksherman » Wed Dec 15, 2021 8:18 pm

Just a small question, most Americans who transferred from RCAF to USAAF were able to wear their RCAF Wings as well as their USAAF Wings, I wonder why 1st Lt Schnebly did not !

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: 1st Lt. Dexter Clarence Schnebly, RCAF/USAAF

Post by Temujin » Thu Dec 16, 2021 8:36 am

georgetanksherman wrote:
Wed Dec 15, 2021 8:18 pm
Just a small question, most Americans who transferred from RCAF to USAAF were able to wear their RCAF Wings as well as their USAAF Wings, I wonder why 1st Lt Schnebly did not !
I don’t know George. I saw the same thing when I looked at his photo’s. Probably “his choice” I would guess

Post Reply