World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John Franklin Clark
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Wawona, Oklahoma
Honored By
A Grateful American
IN FEBRUARY 1944, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 487TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 352ND FIGHTER GROUP, BASED IN BODNEY, ENGLAND. HE NAMED HIS PLANE, A MUSTANG P-51, 'LOUISIANA LADY'. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1944, WITH THREE OTHER P-51 AIRCRAFT, HE WAS FLYING IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION MARKET GARDEN WHEN A GERMAN FW-190 ATTACKED THE GROUP. SHOT THROUGH THE LEG, AND WITH HIS ENGINE BURNING, HE BAILED OUT AND WAS QUICKLY CAPTURED NEAR KALKAR, GERMANY. AFTER TREATMENT IN A GERMAN HOSPITAL HE WAS SENT TO STALAG LUFT 3. HE WAS LIBERATED ON APRIL 29, 1945 AND DISCHARGED IN MAY OF 1945 AS A CAPTAIN.