Like Father, Like Son
Different branches of the service attracted Arthur L. Clark, who joined the navy last December, and his son, Arthur L. Clark, Jr., who entered the army in October, 1941.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Saturday, October 30, 1942, Page 31
Reports For Pilot Training
MAXWELL FIELD, Ala. – Cadet Arthur LeRoy Clark from Mason City has reported to the army air forces pre-flight school for pilots at Maxwell field from the classification center at Nashville to begin the second phase of his training to become a pilot in the nation’s expanding air force.
Here he will receive nine weeks of intensive military, physical and academic instruction preparatory to his beginning actual flight training at one of the many primary flight schools located in the southeast army air forces training center.
Cadet Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Clark, 412 First street southeast, Mason City, Iowa, is a graduate of Mason City high school and had 11 months service in the army before beginning appointed an aviation cadet in the army air forces at Camp Shelby, Miss.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, October 30, 1942, Page 24
Aviation Cadet Arthur Leroy Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Clark, has completed the second phase of his flight training at the army air forces basic flying school, Guner army air field, Montgomery, Ala., it was announced Friday. Prior to his arrival in Alabama, he grained at Orangeburg, S. Car.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Friday, April 09, 1943, Page 8
IN WASHINGTON—
Second Lt. Arthur L. Clark is now on active duty with the army air forces at Geiger field, Spokane, Wash. He was commissioned a pilot early in the spring at Moultrie, Ga. He is a graduate of the Mason City schools and was employed as a mechanic in civilian life. Lieutenant Clark is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. l. Clark, 422 First street northeast.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 21, 1943 (photo included)
Arthur LeRoy Clark, who is visiting here, has been commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. He is a bomber pilot.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Saturday, October 16, 1943, Page 7
Lt. Arthur L. Clark, Pilot of Fort,
Downed Over France
Missing in Action Since Feb. 6,
Says Word From Washington
Lt. Arthur LeRoy Clark, pilot of a flying fortress and son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Clark, 307 20th S. E., has been missing in action over France since Feb. 6, according to word received from the war department.
The pilot of the bomber which followed Lt. Clark’s on the raid has written to the Mason City parents that they had already dumped their bomb loads on the target and were pulling away for home when he saw a direct hit by flak on Lt. Clark’s ship. They were flying above the clouds at the time, the officer wrote, so he did not see whether Lt. Clark’s fort crashed.
The Mason Cityan arrived in England late in November and has been on a number of missions, according to letters received by his parents. He wrote in his last letter that he did not mind the enemy fighter plane attacks but rather got a thrill out of them because his gunners took good care of them. He admitted, however, that he did not like the flak.
Lt. Clark was graduated from the Mason City schools and worked as a mechanic here before joining the air corps. He entered service in October, 1941, and received his wings as a fighter pilot from Spence field, Moultrie, Ga., in May, 1943.
From there he went to Tallahassee, Fla., where he qualified as a thunderbolt fighter pilot, but upon graduation was one of 26 chosen from his squadron for training as a flying fortress pilot. He completed his bomber pilot training at Kearney, Nebr., last November.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, February 29, 1944, Page 7
Lt. Arthur L. Clark Killed in Action
Over France, Feb. 6
Was Previously Reported Missing on That Date;
Was Pilot of Fortress
Lt. Arthur L. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Clark, 308 20th S. E., was killed in action in flight over France on Feb. 6, according to word received by his parents from the German government through the Red Cross Tuesday.
Lt. Clark, pilot of a flying fortress with the 8th army air force, was previously reported missing in action over France. At that time the pilot of the bomber following Lt. Clark on the raid had written his parents here that they had seen a direct hit by flak on Lt. Clark’s ship, but had been unable to see whether the fortress crashed.
Lt. Clark came to England in November. He joined the air corps in October, 1941, and received his commission as a fighter pilot at Spence field, Moultrie, Ga., in May, 1943. He later qualified as a thunberbolt pilot but upon graduation was one of 28 chosen from his squadron for training as a flying fortress pilot. He completed his bomber pilot training at Kearney, Nebr., last November.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, March 14, 1944, Page 16
Purple Heart Is Awarded
to Lt. Clark Posthumously
Killed in Action Over France Feb. 6;
Was Pilot of Fortress
Lt. Arthur L. Clark, killed in action over France on Feb. 6, has been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, according to word received from his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Clark, 308 20th S. E. The decoration was given for “military merit.”
Lt. Clark was [a] pilot of a flying fortress with the 8th army air force and was first reported missing in action over France on Feb. 6. At that time the pilot of a bomber following Lt. Clark’s ship reported having seen the fortress hit directly by flak but had been unable to see whether the ship had crashed. Later it was reported from the war department that word had been received through the Red Cross that Lt. Clark had been killed in action.
Lt. Clark joined the air corps in November, 1941, and had been commissioned as a fighter pilot at Spence field, Moultrie, Ga., in May, 1942. He received his silver wings May 28, 1943. He was later given training as a flying fortress pilot. He had arrived in England last November.
Source: The Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa, Thursday, April 20, 1944, Page 12 (photo included)
