 | World War II US Army Air Forces563rd Bomb Squadron, 3rdBombardment Division, 8th Air Force Service Number: O-824097 Born:February 8, 1916 Inducted: February 23, 1943 - Iowa Killed in actionNovember 9, 1944 over Belgium Buried: Chariton Cemetery, Section K, Row 5,Lot 69 Chariton, Iowa Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal w/4 OLC, Purple Heart |
Husband of Maxine Sutton Clark of Akron, later of Denver. Son of Melvin R.and Mabel D. Clark of Chariton, Iowa.
A brother, PFC Beryl L. Clark, 357thInf Reg, 90th Inf Div, who was killed in action Jan 11, 1945, is buried besideJames.
June 5, 1943, Chariton, Iowa
James Duane Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin R. Clark, Chariton, has beenenrolled in the school for pilots at Maxwell field, Alabama.
Clark is a graduate of the Chariton high school and was a structural steelworker and rigger when he entered the army Feb 23, 1943. He served as anenlisted man until he was accepted as an aviation cadet.
November 18, 1943, Chariton, Iowa
Aviation Cadet James D. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin R. Clark, recentlyreported to the Greenville Army Airfield, Greenville, Miss., for further flighttraining.
February 12, 1944, Chariton, Iowa
Clark Wins Wings at Illinois Field
Son of Mr.and Mrs. Clark Now Lieutenant in Army Air Corps.Lt. James D. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Clark of Chariton, was a memberof the 44-B class of aviation cadets to graduate from the Army Air Forces PilotSchool (Advanced 2 Engine) at George Field, Ill., Tuesday.
He received the silver wings of a flying officer and was commissioned asecond lieutenant.
Lieutenant Clark entered pilot training last June and attended schools atAmericus, Ga., and Greenville, Miss., before going to George Field.
He attended high school in Chariton and was with the Selmes DrakeConstruction Co. in Seattle Wash. before entering service.
August 24, 1944, Chariton, Iowa
Lieut. J.D. Clark Co-Pilot of Flying Fortress OverReich
Crippled by Enemy Fire; Battles Way Home by ItselfAn Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England -- Flak that ripped open a fuel tank and punctured an oil cooler, dropped the B-17 Flying Fortress piloted by 2nd Lieutenant John J. Chimenti, 23, of Erie, Pa., flying his fifth bombing attack, out of formation but he brought his plane home safely on three engines alone.
The target was the Krupp armament works at a Magdeburg, and Lt. Chimentiheld his stricken plane in formation until bombs away. Then he fell back.
The tank that serves the number 4 engine had been torn open. The gas cameout in a solid stream. The pilot stopped the engine and transferred all the gaswhich could be saved to the other three engines.
Flying alone across Germany, the crew expected to be pounced on by enemyfighters, but they were not attacked. The co-pilot, 2nd Lieutenant James D.Clark, 28, of Chariton, Iowa, reported seeing German fighter planes in thevicinity but they failed to close in on the crippled bomber.
Lt. Chimenti's squadron is part of a group attached to the 3rd BombardmentDivision, which has been cited by the president for the now historic NorthAfrica shuttle attack, when Messerschmitt plants at Regensburg, Germany wereattacked.
Lt. J.D. Clark Awarded Cluster
Decorated forWork In Support of Army.An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England -- Two Southeastern Iowa menhave been decorated with the Air Medal, or with an Oak Leaf Cluster to an AirMedal previously awarded, at the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress stationby Colonel William B. David of Calhoun, Ga.
They are:
Second Lieutenant James D. Clark, 28, of Chariton, who has beenawarded the Air Medal. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin R. Clark and hiswife is Mrs. Barbara M. Clark of Denver, Colo. He was a structural steel workerat Seattle, Wash., before entering the AAF in February, 1943.Staff Sergeant Paul W. Rheinschmidt, 19, of Burlington, tail gunner, who hasbeen awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Air Medal, equivalent to another awardof the medal.
The men were decorated for "meritorious achievement" during bombing attackson Nazi war industries and on military targets in France in support of Alliedground forces.
Their group is a unit of the 3rd Bombardment Division, cited by thepresident for its now historic England-Africa shuttle bombing of theMesserschmitt aircraft factories at Regensburg, Germany.
October 31, 1944, Chariton, Iowa
Promotion to James D. Clark
An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England -- Promotion of James D. Clark,28, of Chariton, Iowa, from second to first lieutenant has been announced bythis Eighth Air Force station.
Lieutenant Clark is co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress that has been bombingNazi war industries and military targets in support of Allied groundforces.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M.R. Clark and his wife is Mrs. Barbara M.Clark of Denver, Colo. Before entering the Army Air Forces in December 1942(sic), he was an employee of the Selmes Drake Construction Company of Seattle,Wash.
November 23, 1944. Chariton, Iowa
Lt. Duane Clark Killed in Action OverFrance
Parents Notified Death Occurred on Thursday, Nov.9.First Lieut. J. Duane Clark, 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Clark, Chariton,has been killed in action over France. This word was received by the parentsSunday evening in a telegram from the government.
Lieut. Clark was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress and was with the 8th airforce now seeing action on the western front.
He was graduated from Chariton high school in 1933 and from there went toCleveland, Ohio, where he learned the welding trade. He worked at variousplaces in Cleveland until the time war broke out when he was sent to DutchHarbor, Alaska, where he worked on defense construction until he enlisted inthe army in February, 1942. (sic)
Following his enlistment he was sent to officers' training school and tookpilot training, being graduated from this work with the rank of lieutenant ofFebruary 8, 1943 (sic). He took his work at George Field Ill. and advancedtraining in Florida.
His wife, Mrs. Barbara Clark, to whom he was married Feb. 16, 1944, isliving with her parents in Denver, Colo. She is engaged in war work. A brother,Pfc Veryl Clark (sic) is now in action on the French front.
November 31, 1944, Chariton, Iowa
Gives Life
(Photo)First Lieutenant Duane Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Clark, Chariton,who was officially reported killed in action over France. Lt. Clark was a pilotof a B-17 Flying Fortress. The war department lists November 9 as the day hewas lost.
Mrs. Barbara Clark, of Denver, widow of First Lt. Dwaine Clarke (sic), whowas killed in air corps service over France November 9, 1944, returned toDenver Saturday after spending a week here with her husband's parents, Mr. andMrs. Melvin Clark and sister, Dortha Clark. She was accompanied to Denver byMrs. Clark, who will visit relatives.
Thursday December 7, 1944 The Akron News-Reporter
Lieut. James Clark Killed in Action
First Lieut. James D. Clark, husband of Maxine Sutton Clark, was killed inaction over France, November 9, according to word received November 26. Aletter of confirmation from the war department was received Dec 3 by Mrs.Clark.
Lieut. Clark was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress and was with the EighthAir Force now in action on the western front. He had been awarded theDistinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and hisgroup was a unit of the 3rd Bombardment division, which was cited by thepresident.
Going overseas last June, Lieut. Clark had only four more missions tocomplete for the required number in that theater of war.
No further details of the tragedy were available, but no doubt in time moreinformation will be released.
Lieut. Clark was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Clark of Chariton, Ia. andhis wife is living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack A. Sutton inDenver.
August 1948, Chariton, Iowa
Services Sunday For Clark Brothers
(Beryl LowellClark photo and James Duane Clark photo)Double military funeral services for James Duane and Beryl Lowell, sons ofMr. and Mrs. Melvin Clark, whose bodies were returned from overseas Tuesday toChariton, will be held at the Dunshee Funeral Home, Sunday, Aug. 29.Officiating will be the Rev. Archie Beals and the Rev. Virgil __anson. Burialwill be in the Chariton cemetery and the American Legion will be in charge ofthe graveside services. Serving as casket bearers will be boyhood friends ofthe Clark brothers who have all served in different branches of the service.(List omitted)
Beryl Lowell Clark
(most of the edge of newspaper column cut offso this obit omitted)James Duane Clark
James Duane, eldest son of Melvin and Mabel Clark, was bon in Lucas county,February 8, 1916. When a small lad he united with the Presbyterian church ofChariton. He was graduated from the Chariton high school with the class of 1933and later from the Lincoln Welding school of Cleveland, Ohio, where he wasemployed for a number of years. Prior to his enlistment in the service of hiscountry, he worked on government defense construction at Dutch Harbor, Alaska,and was there when the first bombing by Japan took place there.
Returning home late in 1942, he enlisted in the army air corps and enteredpilot training in 1943, being graduated with the rank of Lieutenant on Feb. 8,1944, at George Field, Ill. On Feb. 16, 1944 he was united in marriage toBarbara Maxine Sutton, who was a faithful companion to him during furtheradvanced training in Florida. On June 15, 1944, he was sent overseas to the 8thAir Force in England where he served as a co-pilot on a B-17 bomber. Whileparticipating in his 33rd mission to Saarbrucken, Germany, his plane explodedin mid air and he was called to rest Nov 9, 1944. Seven of his crew parachutedto safety and they said, ":Duane gave his life for us." By direction of thePresident he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and four OakLeaf Clusters, posthumously.
After entering the service Duane renewed his covenant with Christ and hisletters to his loved ones bear witness of his steadfast faith in Him.
One brother, Paul, preceded him in death in July, 1927. He is survived byhis wife, Barbara, Denver, Colo., his father, mother and one sister, DorthaSandahl, all of Chariton. His brother Beryl, was killed two monthslater.
Gaston Georges of Belgium provided the following information:
Credits:
Headstone photograph donated by the Lucas County (Iowa) GenealogicalSociety.
1944 class photo scan donated by Paul Roales
Clark photograph and Chariton news clippings donated by Reta William.
Belgium plaque and memorial photo donated by Gaston Georges
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