Jack Lindsey Clark was born at South Gate, Kentucky, the son of Roy Bryant Clark and Blanche M. Lindsey. He married Caroline Frame in 1941.
Second Lieutenant Jack Lindsey Clark, US Army Air Forces, was a bombardier assigned to the 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group Heavy. It arrived at Thorp Abbots, England, on 14 June 1943. 2nd Lt Clark was assigned to Crew #3 on B-17 #42-30038 Bar Fly. The plane was shot down on 25 June 1943 on the 100th first combat Mission, to Bremen, Germany.
He was killed in action and is listed on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margarten, Netherlands.
Crew members
1st Lt Paul J. Schmalenback, Pilot KIA
FO George W. Cox, Co-Pilot POW
1st Lt John F. Brown, Navigator POW
2nd Lt Jack L. Clark, Bombardier KIA
TSgt Eugene M. Beck, Top TurretEngineer KIA
SSgt Anthony J. Russo, Waistgunner KIA
TSgt Frank J. Podbielski, RadioGunner POW
SSgt William C. Lucas, Waistgunner POW
SSgt Norman C. Goodwin, Ball Turret Gunner POW
SSgt Lewis W. Priegel, Tailgunner KIA
According to a German report, the plane was shot down into the sea 20 Km north of Wangerooge one of the Frisian Islands, and Norman Goodwin was recovered from the sea, taken to a hospital on the Island of Norderney where an amputation of his left thigh was performed. Goodwin was subsequently returned to the U.S. John Brown was also picked up from the sea and sent to a hospitial at Sanderbusch. Both Frank Podbielski and William Lucas were recovered by Coastguard boat at 10h00 and transfered to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on 26 June 1943.
A statement made by Frank Podbielski in which he described the final minutes of his aircraft says, in part, “After 30 minutes of combat action, the top turret guns were silent. TSgt Beck could have been wounded or killed. SSgt Goodwin lay wounded on the floor of the radio room. Sgt Russo lay wounded to the right of the ball turret after administering first aid to Goodwin. According to email received by Ed Cox, Lt Cox’s nephew, Lt George Mutt Cox survived the bailout but died later in the POW camp. Also in the email, Lt Cox’s sister states that Lt Cox told her the name of the aircraft was Bar Fly.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 4 July 1943:
Mrs. Caroline Frame Clark, 936 East Terrace, received a message from the War Department yesterday notifying her that her husband, Second Lt. Jack L. Clark, 24, was “missing in action” in the European area. A bombardier on a Flying Fortress, Lt. Clark left the United States last May 25
and was reported as missing on June 25, exactly a month later. The only letter Mrs. Clark has received from her husband since he left the States was written June 13, just after he had arrived in London. Lt. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy B. Clark, 2507 Duncan Avenue, joined the air corps reserve in February, 1942, and was called into active service April 18 of that year. He has one sister, Miss Ruth Clark, who lives with her parents. A former student at Central High School and the University of Chattanooga, he was employed by het Volunteer Ordnance Works when called to active duty. He received his commission as second lieutenant Oct. 10, 1942, at Victorville, Calif. Lt. Clark was stationed at Kearney, Neb., when ordered to leave for his port of embarkation. While he was at Kearney, Mrs. Clark was with him. The first indication Mrs. Clark had that her husband was missing in action came Friday night when she received a wire from the mother of the ship’s pilot, who lives in Philadelphia, that her son was missing. Later, at midnight, a message came from the navigator’s wife, who lives in Oakland, Calif., that her husband was missing. The women had known each other while their menfolk were at Kearney.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 16 May 1919
- Date of death: 25 June 1943
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XI, Middle Panel
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