Lt
John Alden CLARK
Click here to see album - 4 items
Click here to see album - 4 items
Click here to see album - 4 items
Click here to see album - 4 items
Army Serial Number: O-774946
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 418th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Copilot
Beginning Date of 100th Service: Unknown
Time of Service at Thorpe Abbotts: Unknown - Unknown
Additional 100th Service Notes
Status: CPT
Comments: 8 MAR 45 LANGENDREER
Biography
Died postwar on July 14, 2024
John Clark Obituary
Published by Legacy on Jul. 16, 2024.
John Alden Clark, age 101 and six days, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was called home to his Heavenly Father on July 14, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Professor Clark received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1948. He earned his Master's and Doctor's degrees from MIT in 1949 and 1953 and served on the MIT research and teaching faculty from 1949 to 1957. In 1957 he was appointed to the University of Michigan faculty as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, later serving as Department Chairman for two terms. He retired in 1988 after 32 years on the Michigan faculty.
Dr. Clark has devoted his professional life to the fields of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Thermal and Nuclear Power, Space Propulsion Systems and Solar Energy. He has published approximately 150 peer reviewed technical publications in these fields. He has been the recipient of several professional honors and awards, appointments, and editorships, which are summarized in Who's Who in America, where he has been listed since 1974. For over 50 years he has been an engineering consultant in the field of Thermal Processes. Professor Clark has been a Senior Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1988. In 1956 he was awarded the Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal Award by the ASME as the most outstanding Mechanical Engineer graduate within ten years of graduation.
Professor Clark was born at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor on July 9, 1923, and was reared in Royal Oak, MI. He was a 1941 graduate of Royal Oak High School and studied at the Lawrence Institute of Technology in Highland Park, MI, prior to service in World War II. On July 8, 1945, he married Marie Mountain in West Des Moines, Iowa, and she passed away after 63 years of marriage on October 2, 2008. They were parents of five children. As avid mariners they sailed their 36-foot sloop for 32 years on Lake Erie and a 36-foot Silverton cruiser for 10 years when health issues prevented using a sailboat. For fifty years they also enjoyed spending a month each summer with family vacationing on Woman Lake in northern Minnesota.
During WWII Professor Clark served as a B-17 copilot with the 100th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, completing 32 missions over Germany. His World War II memoir, 'An Eighth Air Force Combat Diary', was published in 2001. After the war he flew as a pilot with the 107th Bomb Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard, 1946-1948. He has been a Senior Life Member of the Yankee Air Museum since 2002, and a Life Member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 100th Bomb Group Foundation. His wife, Marie Mountain Clark, was also an experienced Air Force pilot who served in WWII as a member of the Women's Air Force Service PIlots (WASP). She published her own war memoir, 'Dear Mother and Daddy: World War II Letters Home from a WASP' in 2005. She was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in August 2015. Professor Clark was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in May 2016. Professor Clark has been awarded many military decorations for his service in World War II including the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the French Croix de Guerre with one Palm Leaf and the French Legion of Honor of rank Chevalier (Knight), among others. The military uniforms of both Professor Clark and Marie are on permanent display at the Yankee Air Museum (currently called Michigan Flight Museum) in Bellville, MI.
In May 2016 Professor Clark delivered the principal address for the Memorial Day Celebration in the Michigan Senate Chambers in Lansing, Michigan.
John moved to Friendship Village in Bloomington, MN to be closer to family in 2017, where he lived until his death.
Survivors include his son and daughter, David W. Clark (Connie), of Eden Prairie, MN, and Eloise-Marie Clark Loeffler, MD (Rodney), of Eden Prairie, MN, granddaughter Susan Marie Clark Sweeter of Finlayson, MN, Charles John Clark (Jean), and great granddaughter, Claudia Marie, of Redmond, WA. Dr. Clark was predeceased by twin sons Alan and Merrill (1946), Peter (1988), brothers Charles (1991), Robert (2006), sisters Alice (2014) and Doris (2021).
The family also wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the sustained and committed friendship of Vi Kokmeyer during John's final years in Ann Arbor.
Private burial services will be conducted later this week at the family plot at Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation online at 100thBG.com or mail a check made out to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation Laura Barrett, 405 Reel Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15229.
Published by Legacy on Jul. 16, 2024.
John Alden Clark, age 101 and six days, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was called home to his Heavenly Father on July 14, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Professor Clark received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1948. He earned his Master's and Doctor's degrees from MIT in 1949 and 1953 and served on the MIT research and teaching faculty from 1949 to 1957. In 1957 he was appointed to the University of Michigan faculty as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, later serving as Department Chairman for two terms. He retired in 1988 after 32 years on the Michigan faculty.
Dr. Clark has devoted his professional life to the fields of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Thermal and Nuclear Power, Space Propulsion Systems and Solar Energy. He has published approximately 150 peer reviewed technical publications in these fields. He has been the recipient of several professional honors and awards, appointments, and editorships, which are summarized in Who's Who in America, where he has been listed since 1974. For over 50 years he has been an engineering consultant in the field of Thermal Processes. Professor Clark has been a Senior Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1988. In 1956 he was awarded the Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal Award by the ASME as the most outstanding Mechanical Engineer graduate within ten years of graduation.
Professor Clark was born at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor on July 9, 1923, and was reared in Royal Oak, MI. He was a 1941 graduate of Royal Oak High School and studied at the Lawrence Institute of Technology in Highland Park, MI, prior to service in World War II. On July 8, 1945, he married Marie Mountain in West Des Moines, Iowa, and she passed away after 63 years of marriage on October 2, 2008. They were parents of five children. As avid mariners they sailed their 36-foot sloop for 32 years on Lake Erie and a 36-foot Silverton cruiser for 10 years when health issues prevented using a sailboat. For fifty years they also enjoyed spending a month each summer with family vacationing on Woman Lake in northern Minnesota.
During WWII Professor Clark served as a B-17 copilot with the 100th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, completing 32 missions over Germany. His World War II memoir, 'An Eighth Air Force Combat Diary', was published in 2001. After the war he flew as a pilot with the 107th Bomb Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard, 1946-1948. He has been a Senior Life Member of the Yankee Air Museum since 2002, and a Life Member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 100th Bomb Group Foundation. His wife, Marie Mountain Clark, was also an experienced Air Force pilot who served in WWII as a member of the Women's Air Force Service PIlots (WASP). She published her own war memoir, 'Dear Mother and Daddy: World War II Letters Home from a WASP' in 2005. She was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in August 2015. Professor Clark was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in May 2016. Professor Clark has been awarded many military decorations for his service in World War II including the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the French Croix de Guerre with one Palm Leaf and the French Legion of Honor of rank Chevalier (Knight), among others. The military uniforms of both Professor Clark and Marie are on permanent display at the Yankee Air Museum (currently called Michigan Flight Museum) in Bellville, MI.
In May 2016 Professor Clark delivered the principal address for the Memorial Day Celebration in the Michigan Senate Chambers in Lansing, Michigan.
John moved to Friendship Village in Bloomington, MN to be closer to family in 2017, where he lived until his death.
Survivors include his son and daughter, David W. Clark (Connie), of Eden Prairie, MN, and Eloise-Marie Clark Loeffler, MD (Rodney), of Eden Prairie, MN, granddaughter Susan Marie Clark Sweeter of Finlayson, MN, Charles John Clark (Jean), and great granddaughter, Claudia Marie, of Redmond, WA. Dr. Clark was predeceased by twin sons Alan and Merrill (1946), Peter (1988), brothers Charles (1991), Robert (2006), sisters Alice (2014) and Doris (2021).
The family also wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the sustained and committed friendship of Vi Kokmeyer during John's final years in Ann Arbor.
Private burial services will be conducted later this week at the family plot at Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation online at 100thBG.com or mail a check made out to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation Laura Barrett, 405 Reel Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15229.
Comments and Notes
Memo 1:
CREW
1st Lt Charles B.Blanding P CPT 16/4/45 ROYAN SN# 0-791324
2nd Lt John A.Clark CP CPT 8/3/45 GIESSEN SN# O-774946 (became CP on Lt W.V. McGuire Crew) see below
2nd Lt David L.Bittman NAV FEH
2nd Lt Alvin H.Belimow BOM CPT 16/4/45 ROYAN SN# 0-777419
Cpl 'Robin J.Whybrow TTE CPT 16/4/45 ROYAN SN# 19090172
Cpl Peter Glanz ROG CPT 16/4/45 ROYAN SN# 16113273
Cpl Wade .Doares. BTG CPT 28/2/45 KASSEL SN# 14193851
Cpl Irvin J.Delaney WG FEH SN# 39714981
Cpl William E.Cox TG FEH SN# 39144905 (taken off Crew, replaced by Sgt Bruce Ellis)
Cpl Rex D. Thomas WG FEH SN# 39118852
418th Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 23/9/44. See p.103 S.O.C
This became a lead crew in November 1944 and Lt John Clark elected not to become a formation officer and continue flying. He was with Lt Morin's Crew for one mission (Dec 24, 1944) but was permenately transferred to Lt W.V. Mcguire Crew on Dec 26 1944 and completed his missions with that Crew. Lt Jack Jenista joined the crew as Navigator when it became a Lead Crew, he flew 18 missions with this Crew.
Missions of Lt John Alden Clark with Lt Blanding Crew:
1. 09/10/44 MAINZ
2. 12/10/44 BREMEN
3. 14/10/44 COLOGNE
4. 17/10/44 COLOGNE
5. 18/10/44 KASSEL
6. 19/10/44 MANNHEIM
FLAK LEAVE
7. 30/10/44 MERSEBURG (RECALLED)
8. 02/11/44 MERSEBURG
9. 09/11/44 SAARBRUCKEN
10. 16/11/44 DUREN
11. 21/11/44 OSNABRUCK
Lt Blanding Crew becomes a Lead Crew and Lt Clark is place in Spare or Standby Pilots roster.
This crew was a lead crew and appears on the 3rd Air Division Honor Roll Crew list for March 1945
12. 24/12/44 BABENHAUSEN (one and only mission with Lt Morin Crew)
2ND LTJOHN F. MORIN P POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG
2ND LT ANTHONY B.DiSILVO CP NOC (acording to Lt Clark's book, Lt DiSilvo RFS on a mission to Berlin)
2ND LT ALFRED L. LETOURNEAU NAV POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG
2ND LT EMIL M. NAWOJ BOM POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG
CPL WILLIAM S. HANELY ROG POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG TAPS: 1 JAN 1975
CPL GEORGE J. KOULOUTPANIS TTE POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG TAPS: 16 NOV 1990
CPL BILLIE F. WRIGHT BTG POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG
CPL JACKIE R. AUDRAIN WG NOC TAPS: 09 SEP 1986
CPL WILLIAM B. BERRY WG POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG TAPS: 1986
CPL DALE S. BROWN TG KIA 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG
418th Sqdn. Crew Joined the 100th Group on 5/10/44. See SOC p.88.
"Morin's A/C #459 dropped back and lost altitude after first fighter
attack.Pilot was heard on VHF at 1250 hours saying he had two wounded men aboard
but might be forced to ditch. Said he would try to reach Holland,and had
gasoline for one hours flying." A/C #43-38459 MACR #11358, MICRO - FICHE #4179
Lt. Louis C. Ciriegio from the Lt W.V. McGuire crew was flying in place of Tony
DeSilvo and became a POW. Lt John A. Clark flew on mission with this crew
December 24, 1944.
MISSIONS OF LT JOHN ALDEN CLARK WITH LT MCGUIRE CREW:
13. 27/12/44 FULDA
14. 28/12.44 KOBLENZ
15. 02/01/45 BAD KREUZNACH
16. 03/01/45 FULDA
17. 05/01/45 FRANKFURT
18. 14/01/45 DERBEN-STENDAL
FLAK LEAVE
19. 28/01/45 DUISBERG
20. 29/01/45 KASSEL
31/01/45 BERLIN (ABORTED) LISTED AS BREMEN IN 100TH BG MISSION LIST…mpf
21. 09/02/45 WEIMAR (S.T.)
13/02/45 HANOVER/DRESDEN (S.T.)
22. 14/02/45 PLAUEN (S.T.)
23. 17/02/45 FRANKFURT
24. 19/02/45 MUNSTER
25. 20/02/45 NURNBURG
26. 22/02/45 HEUINGEN (100TH "B")
27. 23/02/45 TREUCHTINGEN
28. 28/02/45 KASSEL
29. 02/03/45 DRESDEN
30. 03/03/45 BRUNSWICK
31. 07/03/45 SIEGEN (S.T.)
32. 08/03/45 GIESSEN (S.T.)
CREW
LT WILLIAM V. "Mac" McGUIRE P CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSEN, MY (S.T.)
F/O LOUIS C. CIRIEGIO CP POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG TAPS: 1972 (with the crew of Lt Morin)
CPL CHARLES F. LANG ROG CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSEN, MY (S.T.)
CPL WILLIAM L. MaGEE TTE CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSEN, MY (S.T.) TAPS: 20 MAY 1982
CPL ELVIN LaRome SWIM BTG CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSEN, MY (S.T.) TAPS: 23 NOV 1979
CPL OTTO E. LEIGHTON WG CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSIN, MY (S.T.)
CPL GAIL H. DAUGHERTY WG NOC taken off crew to reduce to nine men
CPL HAROLD L. PARKINSON TG CPT 8 MAR 45 GIESSEN, MY (S.T.) TAPS: 24 JUL 1966
418TH SQDN…CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 09 JUL 1944
In December 1944 Lt Louis Ciriegio and Lt McGuire had a personality conflict and Lt Ciriegio was
replaced on the Crew by Lt John Alden Clark from Lt Charles Blanding Crew.
Sgt Napoleon H. Owen served as toggelier on this crew.
Navigator on this Crew was a 1st Lt nicknamed "Hiny"
Subj: 100thBG Feedback Form
Date: 2/1/2004 10:39:25 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: cketterling@lodi.gov Chris Ketterling
List of Missions Flown by Lt McGuire Crew w/Lt Ciriegio
1 Bremen 9/26/44
2 Mainz 9/27/44
3 Kassel 10/02/44
4 Cologne 10/17/44
5 Mannheim 10/19/44
6 Munster 10/22/44
7 Merseberg 11/02/44
8 Ludwigshaven 11/05/44
9 Neumunster 11/06/44
10 Coblenz Recall
11 Merseberg 11/30/44
12 Coblenz 12/11/44
13 Darmstadt 12/12/44
14 Zellhausen 12/24/44
Their next mission was when Lt John Clark joined the crew.
-------------------------------
Memo 2:
Per JA Clark: Note the tree at the end of the runway, which is runway 28. On the relatively few mission mornings when it was sufficiently clear we could see that tree and use it to confirm takeoff position.
***************
Our Quonset hut in the WAFFI site at Thorpe Abbotts (100th BG) did not have showers but we did have a place to hand wash and shave. In addition there were two adjacent closed toilets. So far as showers were concerned there were none even nearby. Should someone desire a bath it could be had by informing the area monitor, a British civilian, the day before so he could light a water heater to provide enough heated water for one bath in a separate unheated building. I served in the Fall-Winter 1944-45 which was unusually cold so there were few calls for bathing. One benefit from our 2-3 day passes to London was to enjoy a soaking in hot bath in a London hotel. I do not recall any showers in the Winston Hotel where I normally stayed, however.
Photos
Crew List
1st Crew List
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capt | BLANDING, Charles B. | P | CPT |
| Lt | CLARK, John Alden | CP | CPT |
| Lt | BITTMAN, David L. | NAV | FEH |
| CAPT | JENISTA, John R. | NAV | FEH |
| LT | BELIMOW, Alvin H. | BOM | CPT |
| T/SGT | WHYBROW, Robin J. | TTE | CPT |
| T/Sgt | GLANZ, Peter | ROG | CPT |
| S/SGT | DOARES, Wade A. | BTG | CPT |
| S/SGT | DELANEY, Irvin J. | WG | FEH |
| S/SGT | THOMAS, Rex D. | WG | NOC |
| SGT | COX, William E. | TG | NOC |
2nd Crew List
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT | MCGUIRE, William V. | P | CPT |
| Lt | CLARK, John Alden | CP | CPT |
