Spitfire BL964 Mk Vb - Rodeo - 1942-07-26 to 1942-07-26
Squadron: 412 (F) Sqn (RCAF)
Start Date: 1942-07-26
Completion Date: 1942-07-26
Mission: Rodeo
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Redhill
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code: VZ-G
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: in a field near the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: unspecified
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

412 Squadron (Promptus ad vindictum) RAF Redhill. Lieutenant-Colonel A P "Bub" Clark (USAAF), Executive Officer of the 31st Fighter Group, Eight Air Force temporarily attached to 412 Squadron (RCAF) flying Spitfire Vb aircraft BL 964 engaged in a sweep over the English Channel (Rodeo). Attacked by a German fighter aircraft, Clark's engine cut out and unable to open his canopy, Lieutenant-Colonel Clark force landed his Spitfire in a field near the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez, France. He was immediately captured by soldiers from Batterie Todt, a German coastal artillery battery and ended the war as a Prisoner of War. At Stalag Luft 3, as Senior American Officer in the camp, Clark made significant contributions to the success of the "Great Escape". He was liberated in April 1945.

Note that some sources report VZ*G on this date was EN784, but recently found photos in France, reviewed and confirmed by Lieutenant General Clark before his death, confirm that he was in BL964 when he was captured.

  • The Great Escape, A Canadian Story by Ted Barris, pages 59, 69, 76, 107, 169
  • The Great Escapers, The Full Story of the Second World War's Most Remarkable Mass Escape by Tim Carroll, pages 20, 58, 62, 67, 73-6,77, 89, 92,100-02, 108,119,122, 140, 157, 164-5, 167-8, 235
  • Stalag Luft III, The Secret Story by Arthur A Durand, pages 6-8, 35, 101, 105, 107-08, 114, 183-84, 197, 288, 296, 298-99, 356-57, 360

    • unvetted Source 26.07.1942 31st Fighter Group Spitfire LtCol Clarke

    unvetted Source Search for France-Crashes 39-45

    Operatins Record Books 412 Squadron ORB July 1942

    General RAF Commands