Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
CLARK, John C
Date of birth
4 August 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Arnold, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Arnold, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33279680
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Upper Turret Gunner
Unit
20th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Died non-Battle
Date of death
8 March 1945
Place of death
Wöbbelin, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 16 19

Immediate family

Members
John E. Clark (father)
Therese Clark (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37970
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the industry
MACR: 2621

More information

S/Sgt John C. Clark attended high school for 4 years and worked in a glass factory. He enlisted in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on 24 July 1942.

Statement of 2nd LtRobert L. Drake about the crash on 24 February 1944 of the B-17 of which S/Sgt Clark was a crew member on:
"The No. 2 engine of plane No. 42-37970 was shot out and rudder badly damaged. Probably all rudder control was gone. He dropped his bombs after pulling out of formation to our right.
Right after his bombs were away fighters jumped him, approximately 10 to 15 took turns making passes singly. B-17 started losing altitude and dropping behind with fire in No. 2 engine burning behind fire wall. Lost sight then behind horizontal stabilizer."

S/Sgt Clark was taken prisoner and was injured in the left shoulder by flak. He was first held in Stalag Luft 4 in Gross-Tychow (now Tychowo, Poland). Later he was moved to Wöbbelin where he died of malnutrition.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.archives.gov - Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Jac Engels, Terry Hirsch