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Personal info

Full name
CLARK, John J
Date of birth
10 Augusr 1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
Albany County, New York

Military service

Service number
12172204
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 June 1944
Place of death
Zechlinerhütte, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Frank A. Clark (father)
Grace (Gormley) Clark (mother)
Adelbert Clark (brother)
Francis Clark (brother)
William Clark (brother)
George Clark (brother)
Alan Clark (brother)
Loretta Clark (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102662
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Basdorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the BMW aviation industry
MACR: 6239

More information

John J. Clark was a routeman.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Albany, New York on 9 November 1942, together with his brothers Adelbert, Francis, William and George.

Following statement made by 1st Lt. Arthur F. Miller, O-809678:
"About twelve minutes after bombs away at approximately 5258N-1310E, B-17G 42-102662 collided with B-17G 42-31359 in making a right turn. Part of tail assembly from A/C 662 was broken off and plane went down in a tight spiral. It was observed falling to approximately 5000 feet at which point it was lost sight of. It seemed impossible for anyone to bail out."

One crew member was taken prisoner, nine were killed. Some were initially buried at the cemetery of Beerenbusch. Five were initially buried as Unknowns at the POW Cemetery of Zechlinerhütte. Although T/Sgt Clark was identified and also buried at Zechlinerhütte, when the U.S. Army investigated the grave site in 1947, the graves were empty. The Russians had taken their dead from that cemetery home in the interim.

He is remembered at the Gerald B.H. Solomon, Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga County, New York with a memorial stone.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18238601 - page 173

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.americanairmuseum.com