Clark, Donald Hartford

Killed in Action 1944-02-07

Birth Date: 1918-November-29

Born: Winnipeg Manitoba

Son of Albert William G. Clark and Marion Clark of Vancouver; husband of Constance P. Clark, of New Westminster.

Home: New Westminster, British Columbia

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: Unknown

Decorations: DFC

Distinguished Service Cross

Service

RCAF

Unit

VN8D8-A Sqn- Squadron (USN)

Base

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Flight Lieutenant

Service Numbers

J/6993

Home
Google MapNew Westminster, British Columbia
First Burial
Google MapOcean View Burial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia
Born 1918 in Winnipeg; home in New Westminster: enlisted Vancouver, 14 December 1940. Trained at No 2 ITS (graduated 10 March 1941), No 8 EFTS (graduated 15 May 1941) and No 3 SFTS (graduated 20 August 1941) Commissioned 1941 Killed in a flying accident at US Navy Training Sqn VN8D8-A USN Station Pensacola, Florida, 7 February 1944 when a US Navy SNJ-4 (Harvard Trainer) collided with PBY Catalina Ib aircraft FP 166 one mile off Santa Rosa Island, USA. Flight Lieutenant DH Clark DFC (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman WJ Clegg (RAFVR), Leading Aircraftman VJT Cooke (RAFVR), Leading Aircraftman H Laidlaw (RAFVR) were killed. AMM1c Warrant Officer Couchnour (USN) missing, presumed killed (Ragnar J Ragnarsson at www.rafcommands.com)Flight Lieutenant Clark was awarded his DFC during operations with 210 Sqn Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross No.210 - Squadron - Award effective 1 September 1943 as per London Gazette dated 10 September 1943 and AFRO 2138/43 dated 22 October 1941 Award sent by registered mail to next-of-kin, 29 December 1944. The citation reads - "For the last fourteen months Flight Lieutenant Clark has been employed as captain of aircraft. On all occasions this officer has displayed courage, determination and cool judgment." Detail provided by H Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

www.findagrave.com

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Findagrave.com

Canso FP166

Flight Lieutenant Clark, Donald Hartford (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1944-February-07
Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Male Head

Leading Aircraftman Clegg, William Joseph (RAFVR)

Killed in Action
1944-February-07
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Male Head

Leading Aircraftman Cooke, Victor James Thomas (RAFVR)

Killed in Action
1944-February-07
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Male Head

Leading Aircraftman Laidlaw, Henry (RAFVR)

Killed in Action
1944-February-07
Ottawa War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat

RCAF Canso A (Serial No. 9754), No. 162 Squadron, F/L David Ernest Hornell aircraft.
Hornell pby Yarmouth 1943 (003).jpg image not found

The Consolidated Catalina and Canso were close cousins. The Canso was the true amphibious version of the design and therefore included a conventional undercarriage to allow for either water or land use. The Canso provided more than two decades of valuable service to the RCAF. The Catalina variant came first and was produced beginning in 1935 for the United States Navy. The amphibious version, designated PBY-5A, came in service early in 1941 and the RCAF began using the aircraft on anti-submarine patrols that same year. After the Second World War, the RCAF used Cansos for search and rescue, Arctic survey missions and various transport operations.RCAF

YouTube Canso PBY

Wikipedia Wikipedia Canso PBY

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page