Please click here for more information, there is also plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
Military
Lt Col James Clark Jr 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
Captain James A. Clark holds the front paws of a German Shepherd dog (Duke). In the background is a P-47 Thunderbolt (QP-W), of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, which was based at Debden air base. October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'American Thunderbolt fighters are proving a terror to the Germans. The pilots (former members of the R.A.F.) flying their high altitude fast diving fighters that have accounted for many enemy planes. On raid over Paris the fighters of this station accounted for 17 downs, 5 probables and one damaged. 15/10/43.'
James Averell Clark Jr is awarded with the French Croix de Guerre.
(then) Colonel Jesse Auton and (then) Major James "Jim" Clark shaking the Colonel's hand after being awarded a medal by him. Clark served with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron at Debden.
1 April 1944 - A visit by the 'brass' to Debden was capped by this dinner featuring a host of famous faces. Lt. Col. Oscar Coen (left, facing camera), Maj. Gen. William Kepner, Mr. Banks (standing), Lt. Col. Jim Clark, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Col. Don Blakeslee, Gen. Carl Spaatz, Capt. Don Gentile, Brig. Gen. Jesse Auton, Capt. Joe Lang, Col. Fallows (left, nearest camera), Brig. Gen. Curtis, Maj. Jim Goodson, Lt. Gen. Doolittle, Capt. Bob Johnson, Commander Harry Butcher, Capt. Alfred Markel, and Lt. William Rowles. On the far row in the centre is Supreme Allied Commander Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, and to his left is Col Don Blakeslee, Lt Gen Carl Spaatz, commander of US Strategic Air Forces, and Capt Don Gentile. Second from left in the back row is Maj Gen William Kepner, head of VII Fighter Command. Sitting opposite Gen Eisenhower is Brig Gen Jesse Auton, 65th Fighter Wing CO, and to his left is Maj James Godson and, turning, with his back to the camera, Mag Gen James Doolittle, commander of the Eighth Air Force.
Capt. James A. Clark prepares to taxi out in P-47C Thunderbolt 41-6413 in the early autumn of 1943.
(L-R): 1st Lt. Duane W. Beeson, Maj. James A. Clark and Lt. Col. Don Blakeslee are seen at the door of the Red Cross's alochol-free Eagle Club in London in the autumn of 1943.
May 1944 - Lt. Col. James A. Clark's P-51 Mustang, QP-W, Serial No. 43-6560.
7 June 1944. Lt. Col. James Averell Clark's P-51 Mustang QP-W, Serial No. 42-0106650.
![June 1943 - the end of a mission finds [then] Lieutenants Hank Mills, Duane Beeson,](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-14228.jpeg?itok=Bl-ISw02)
June 1943 - the end of a mission finds [then] Lieutenants Hank Mills, Duane Beeson, "Digger" Williams and Captain James A. Clark tired and worried about NYRs (Not Yet Returned) pilots.
Initially assigned to the 71st Eagle Squadron in June 1942. With the founding of the 4th Fighter Group that September, he was assigned to the 334th Squadron, where he eventually became its Commanding Officer.
In March 1944 he became Group Operations Officer, and in September, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he became acting Group and Station Commanding Officer, in the absence of Donald Blakeslee.
In 1944, prior to becoming Group Operations Officer, he served as Assistant Military Attache for Air at the US Embassy, London.
He was credited with 16 enemy aircraft destroyed and was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Unit Award.
Grover Hall in '1000 Destroyed', says of Jim Clark:
“Clark could lead the group and carry the courses, altitudes, weather conditions and rendezvous times in his tawny head, but ask him his age (24) and usually he couldn’t remember off-hand…Clark was an aloof man of strange diffidence who once argued against his promotion to captain and insisted he shouldn’t be awarded the DFC.”
Post War:
1946-50: Stockbroker, Clark Dodge,
1950: Returned to USAF, CO fighter training unit,
1953: President, Lamson Aircraft Company,
1959: Joseph Walker & Son, Manhattan,
1963: President, Condor Mining Company,
1973: Pegasus Air Freight,
1980: Clark retired.
Military | Colonel | Fighter pilot, Commanding Officer | 4th Fighter Group
Don Blakeslee was born on 11 September 1917 in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. As a boy, he became captivated with planes while watching the Cleveland National Air Races held only 30 miles away from his home at 529 7th St, Fairport Harbor, Ohio. In 1938,...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer, Pilot | 355th Fighter Group
Colonel Kinnard, already a much decorated fighter pilot, came to the 4th Fighter Group in September 1944 from his former position as Group Commander of the 355th Fighter Group. He was appointed Deputy Group Commander, reporting to Lt. James Clark,...
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
...
Squadron
The 334th Fighter Squadron was the successor to No. 71 Eagle squadron of the Royal Air Force when the 4th Fighter Group was activated on 12 September 1942. They were based at Debden Field, Essex. The "Fighting Eagles" as they were called, flew...
Squadron
'On 19 September 1940, No. 71 was reformed at Church Fenton as the first 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American personnel. The Squadron received Hurricanes in November and became operational on defensive duties on 5 February 1941. No. 71 converted...
Headquarters
The Headquarters Squadron was made up of true leaders. Most had flown Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs.
...
P-51 Mustang
One-time aircraft of Lt. Col. James Averell Clark. A/C last seen while the group was climbing to meet 50-75 inbound German fighters over Budapest. Pilot Lt Thomas Sharp could not get tanks to drop, he was ordered to return to base. He was not heard...
P-51 Mustang
One-time personal aircraft of Lt Col James A Clark. Lost on escort mission to Poznan, Poland. On return, whilst strafing a Luftwaffe airbase, hit by Flak and bellied in. Pilot Lt Frank Speer initially evaded, but then was captured POW. 29-May-44. MACR...
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 551st Fighter Training Squadron 495th Fighter Training Group 8AF USAAF. During formation immelman manoeuvre, aborted manoeuvre and in recovery A/C stalled and 'flicked' into a spin. Pilot baled out from...
P-47 Thunderbolt
This aircraft was at one time or another, assigned to the following pilots:
Lt. Charles Carr,
Capt. James A. Clark,
Maj. Oscar Coen,
Lt Col. Chesley Peterson,
1st Lt. Thomas J. Andrews.
P-51 Mustang
One-time personal aircraft of Lt Col James A. Clark and 1st Lt Willard G. Gillette.
...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BM293 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
...
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF. Taxiing accident Debden/Sta 356 Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt James A Clark Jr, 8-6-43.
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 405FS, 371FG, 9AF USAAF. Crash Landing Bisterne/Sta 415 Cat 5 damage, pilot Lt Eugene E Sanderson KIA, 12-Apr-44.
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots...
Military site : airfield
Used as an RFC and RAF Home Defence landing ground during the First World War, Kirton-in-Lindsey was built during 1938-40 as an RAF fighter station. It had two grass runways, 10 hardstandings, three grouped C hangars and four over-blister hangars....
Military site : airfield
Opened in 1917 as home to the RFC Aeroplane Experimental Unit, Martlesham Heath became well known during the 1920s-30s as home to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. Used as an RAF fighter station from 1939, with only a grass airfield...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | New York, NY, USA | 7 September 1920 |
| Lived in | Westbury LI, New York | 1940 |
| Based | 13 December 1941 – 9 June 1942 | |
|
Assigned to RAF. |
||
| Based | Kirton-in-Lindsey | 9 June 1942 – 15 September 1942 |
|
Assigned 71st Eagle Squadron RAF. |
||
| Based | Debden | 15 September 1942 – 15 September 1944 |
|
Transferred to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF |
||
| Promotion | Debden, Loughton IG10 3SW, UK | December 1942 |
|
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
||
| Promotion | Debden, Loughton IG10 3SW, UK | 2 July 1943 |
|
Promoted to Captain. |
||
| Promotion | Debden, Loughton IG10 3SW, UK | 19 October 1943 |
|
Promoted to Major. |
||
| Promotion | Debden, Loughton IG10 3SW, UK | 29 March 1944 |
|
Promoted to Lt Colonel. |
||
| Married Lady Bridget Elliott | London, UK | April 1944 |
| Died | Manhattan, New York, NY, USA | 11 January 1990 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 January 2018 18:20:05 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_cl... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 January 2017 12:13:42 | Lucy May | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Marriage announcement in the Ottawa Journal, 19 April 1944 via newspapers.com |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 24 November 2016 15:07:49 | Lucy May | Changes to biography and awards |
| Sources | ||
Correspondence with Clark's son, Christopher: |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 July 2016 14:19:40 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from: |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 May 2016 22:05:07 | WD-C Mustang | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated media already in database |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 April 2016 21:10:11 | WD-C Mustang | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_cl... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2016 22:10:26 | WD-C Mustang | Changes to service number and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
The other entry about this same person |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2016 22:02:39 | WD-C Mustang | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Added pictures of him from another entry about him. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 March 2016 21:54:22 | Al_Skiff | Changes to nickname, biography, awards, events and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/334_cl... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 February 2016 11:36:18 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM DB entry. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 October 2015 18:48:29 | Al_Skiff | Changes to awards, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM DB entry. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 March 2015 12:13:05 | apollo11 | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
All information correct as far as I am aware |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 March 2015 12:11:58 | apollo11 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
All information correct as far as I am aware. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:14:07 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force; Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 |
||
