Eatherly, Claude Robert (02 October 1918–01 July 1978), U.S. Army Air Force pilot, was born in rural north Texas near Van Alstyne, the son of James E. “Bud” Eatherly and Edna Bell George, farmers. At the age of seventeen Eatherly enrolled at North Texas State Teachers’ College in Denton but dropped out in his senior year. In December 1940 he joined the Army Air Corps. A skillful pilot, he entered bomber school and became a second lieutenant on 15 August 1941....

Eatherly, Claude Robert (02 October 1918–01 July 1978), U.S. Army Air Force pilot, was born in rural north Texas near Van Alstyne, the son of James E. “Bud” Eatherly and Edna Bell George, farmers. At the age of seventeen Eatherly enrolled at North Texas State Teachers’ College in Denton but dropped out in his senior year. In December 1940 he joined the Army Air Corps. A skillful pilot, he entered bomber school and became a second lieutenant on 15 August 1941....