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name
CLARK, Earl B Jr - Date of
birth
7 June 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Canton, Stark County, Ohio -
Hometown
Stark County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35601873 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
726th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
22 August 1944 - Place of
death
Papau, Hungary
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 12 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Earl B. Clark (father)
Mary C. (Yeary) Clark (mother)
Mildred Clark (sister)
Muriel Clark (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-51300 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Wet Dream
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 8002
More information
Sgt. Earl B. Clark, Jr graduated of McKinley High School and former employee of Republic Steel Co.On 22 August 1944, 2nd Lt Valerian E. Klein, was pilot of a B-24J type aircraft, AAF serialnumber 42-51300, Wet Dream, on a bombing mission over the Lobau oil storage installations located at Vienna, Austria.
At approximately 1005 hours at 47º15'N,17º18'E in Hungary, enemy fighters attacked his formation and severely damaged his airplane. The airplane pulled off to the left of the formation and four distinct explosions were seen before the aircraft went down totally destroyed. Approximately eight or nine parachutes were seen. In view of the fact that there were nine men aboard the aircraft, there is reason to believe that several, if not all of the crew members landed in enemy occupied territory. It is the opinion of the undersigned, based upon interrogation, that there is a possibility that all members of this crew are either prisoners of war or evaders.
Bailed out chute unopened.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Kinney family tree / 1930 census
Photo source: Jac Engels, Repository - 7 September 1944