Herbert V. Clark
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Herbert V. Clark | |
|---|---|
 Herbert V. Clark - 1955 | |
| Birth name | Herbert V. Clark |
| Born | March 16, 1919 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, US |
| Died | January 25, 2003 (aged 83) Blacksburg, Virginia, US |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1942–1955 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Awards | |
Herbert Vanallen Clark (March 16, 1919 – January 25, 2003) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, and combat fighter pilot with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1944, Clark's aircraft was shot down over Italy but he survived to rejoin his unit.
Early Life, Family
Clark was born on March 16, 1919, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Jefferson County, Arkansas.[1]
Clark's son, Vann Clark, an electrical engineering Ph.D., worked at Boeing - St. Louis as an low observables engineer on the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle program.[2]
Military career
In 1942, he signed up for the U.S. government's Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). After completing the CPTP, he entered basic training. Clark attended the Tuskegee Cadet Pilot program, graduating from its Single Engine Section Class SE-42-F on 3 July 1942 and receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.[3] He was then assigned to the 332rd Fighter Group's 99th Pursuit Squadron.[1] On 5 November 1943 he completed his first combat tour.[4] He was then stationed at Selfridge, Michigan where he became a flight instructor for the 553d Fighter-Bomber Squadron.[5]
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas claims that he was one of the first black pilots to have an aerial victory over a Messerschmitt Bf 109.[1] However the Air Force Historical Research Agency has no record of Clark scoring any aerial victories.[6]
On August 16, 1944, Clark's aircraft was shot down 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Miane, Italy, breaking the aircraft's oil line.[7][8] He evaded capture and on 4 May 1945 he returned to Allied lines.[8][unreliable source?][2][unreliable source?][9]
Awards
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[10]
Death
Clark died on January 25, 2003, at the age of 83. He was interred at the Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg, Virginia, Montgomery County, Virginia.[11]
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
References
- ^ a b c "Herbert V. Clark". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ a b "A man who did what he thought was right: Story of Herbert Clark, Tuskegee Airmen". Warbird Information Exchange. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Horman, Lynn; Reilly, Thomas (2001). Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Pelican Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 9781455601257.
- ^ Stentiford, Barry (2012). Tuskegee Airmen. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, Greenwood Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 9780313386848.
- ^ Jean Pearson (2 April 1944). "Fighter and Bombardment Units Readied for Action". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Dr. Daniel L. Haulman. "The Legend of the African American Ace" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Dr. Daniel L. Haulman. "Table of 332D Fighter Group Reported Fighter Aircraft Losses According To Missing Air Crew Reports February 1944-April 1945" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^ a b "Pilots of Tuskegee Airmen Discusses Air Action Over Anzio". World War II Pictures In Details. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome; Haulman, Daniel (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. NewSouth Books. p. 178. ISBN 9781588382443.
- ^ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Westview Cemetery Blacksburg Virginia". Town of Blacksburg, VA. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
