World War II Honoree

Clarence W. Dart

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Elmira, New York

Honored By

Michael Lynett

A TOP PILOT IN AN ARMY AIR CORPS UNIT 'THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN'. HE SERVED IN ITALY, WHERE THE AIRMEN (FORMALLY THE 332ND FIGHTER GROUP) FLEW CLOSE COMBAT AIR SUPPORT. HE WAS SHOT DOWN TWICE, ONCE WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OUT A GERMAN MACHINE GUN AND ONCE WHEN BOMBING A LARGE GERMAN CANNON MOUNTED IN A MOUNTAIN NEAR ANZIO. BOTH TIMES, HE ATTEMPTED CONTROLLED LANDINGS AND MIRACULOUSLY WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY CUTS AND BRUISES. LATER, THE 332ND FLEW ESCORT FOR HEAVY BOMBERS BASED IN ITALY THAT WENT AFTER OIL REFINERIES, FACTORIES AND RAIL YARDS IN ROMANIA, AUSTRIA, AND GERMANY.