James CLARK (Squadron Leader 402439)
Birth: 28 Aug 1915 Waverley NSWFather: David CLARK Mother: Mary M KILPATRICK Marriage: Ivy Eileen 1942 England Children: David CLARK (1943 - ) Enlisted: 19 Aug 1940 Sydney, NSW Residence: Campbelltown NSW Next of Kin: I Clark Unit: 460 Squadron RAAF Death: 12 Dec 1944 Germany Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Cleves Germany Honours: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross Mentioned In Despatches Roll of Hon: Soldiers Memorial Macarthur Park Camden Photo courtesy Camden Historical Society (from Joyce Thorn scrapbook) Squadron Leader James Clark was a member of the RAAF attached to the RAF in England. He was an Empire Air Scheme trainee and left Australia for Canada in December 1940. He completed his training in the United Kingdom in 1941 and took part in operational flights over enemy territory in Europe. He held the rank of Flying Officer in 1942 when he was awarded the DFC for exemplary work in the Middle East. The citation on that occasion stated that he had displayed a fine spirit of tenacity and keenness in face of hardship and danger, exhibiting special aptitude in devising new methods of attack. During numerous raids on Tobruk he was successful in bombing jetties and starting fires in the dock area. Squadron Leader James Clark's aircraft was shot down by flak at Bergerhausen near Essen at 1940 hours and burst into flames on impact. Six of the crew were killed and they are interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Cleves Germany. FO Milner (RAF) is recorded as missing and his name is commemorated in the Memorial to the Missing at Runnymede Surrey UK. Squadron Leader James CLARK who was acting CO of the Squadron at the time of his death had completed 50 operational sorties. He was age 39. |
| LEST WE FORGET |