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| Luther Clark was lost on the 25th mission of "Big Time Operator", a 535th Bombardment Squadron B-17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49871957/luther-c-clark https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/b-17/b-17-formation-381-bomb-group-535-bomb-squadron/ |
Luther C. Clark never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on January 9, 1919 in Foraker, Oklahoma. His parents Claud and Ora were born in Tennessee and Oklahoma, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as an oilfield roustabout. Luther had a younger sister and brother. By 1940 Luther had completed four years of high school. He joined the army, leaving behind a job as a filling station attendant.
While in the army he decided to volunteer for the Army Air Forces and was accepted to attend flight school. He eventually became trained as a bombardier in the 535th Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17s. The 381st BG was one of the first units sent to England, arriving in November 1942.
Lt. Clark likely participated in the tragic August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt raid that claimed 60 lost bombers. He was the bombardier in the B-17 "Big Time Operator" on its twenty-fifth mission to bomb the airfield at Romilly, France on September 3, 1943. His plane was shot down near Provine by enemy aircraft and although most all of the crew survived to be captured as POWs or escaped back to England, Lt. Clark's parachute did not open.
His grave is at Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma.
Last year on this date I profiled Distinguished Service Cross hero, Edward Wojewodzic, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. You can read about Edward here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
He took the oath … a fellow aviator of my father who was with the 381st as an original pilot with the 535th and later 532nd Squadrons.
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