Clarence Hand

Vigil: Friday, Oct 7th at 7:00 pm. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, Oct. 8th, at 10:00 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Rite of Committal: will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Miles City

Col (Ret USAF) Clarence B. Hand, 86, born May 18, 1919, passed away quietly in his home (Lees Summit, MO), Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Jane (Allen) Hand, his sister Florence Maguire, brother, William Hand and his parents George and Rose Hand.

Clarence attended Custer County High School with his twin brother, Bill, and graduated in 1937. He went onto attend the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn. During the summers, while in college, he and his brother attended flight training at Frank Wiley Field, Miles City, MT, both earned their private pilot license. Later, Clarence would become an Army Air Corps Cadet (90-day wonder) and then graduate from the Cadet program earning his wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He would then go on to fly light bombers for coastal defense, eventually taking the first wave of long-range heavy bombers across the Atlantic flying South to Brazil and then onto Africa. While on home leave, Clarence married Betty Jane Allen, June 1943 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City, MT.

Clarence and Betty Jane had worked together at Foster Drug in Miles City. They would eventually travel together for more than thirty years to numerous locations throughout the world. Betty Jane was a 1940 graduate of Custer County High School and attended Custer County Junior College. Following World War II Clarence returned to Miles City, MT. With the outbreak of the Korean War he was recalled to Active Duty Status and was stationed in England, RAF Fairford. When Clarence returned to the Continental United States, he served with various US Air Force commands in South Carolina, Texas, Philippines, Virginia, Vietnam, Washington D.C., and Missouri. Clarence achieved the rank of Colonel serving 35 years of active duty as a combat pilot.

He retired in 1976 from Richards Gebaur AFB, Kansas City, MO. He earned several honors during his Air Force career among them were; Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal w/one Oak Leaf Cluster.He leaves behind his loving family. His sons William A. Hand of Reston, VA, Col (Ret USAF) Charles B. Hand of Spokane, WA, Maj (Ret USAF) George E. Hand of Newnan, GA and his daughter Rose Marie Hand of Lees Summit, MO. He also leaves behind his sister, Irene Roberts of Helena, MT. He was loved and will be missed by his 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A Vigil service will be held on Friday, Oct 7th at 7:00 pm. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8th, at 10:00 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com.