Lieutenant-Commander Douglas Alan Clark (May 26, 1917 – August 6, 2012)[1] was an American fighter pilot who received the Navy Cross for his actions while commanding Fighting Squadron THIRTY (VF-30), attached to the USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), on 21 March 1945. While on combat air patrol he directed his squadron to attack an enemy formation of Japanese bombers which was heavily protected by fighters. Even though his squadron was significantly outnumbered they were able to shoot down over 40 enemy aircraft in 30 minutes without suffering one loss. Clark himself shot down one enemy fighter and damaged another during the confrontation. His quick action and the superiority of his squadron turned back what would surely have been a devastating attack on his carrier group.
Clark retired from the U.S. Navy in 1963, and moved to south Florida where he lived until his death on August 6, 2012, at the age of 95.[1] He was scheduled to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Medals and Accoladesedit
Lieutenant Commander Douglas Alan Clark received the following medals
^ ab"Douglas Alan Clark Obituary: View Douglas Clark's Obituary by The Palm Beach Post". Legacy.com. 2012-08-12. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
External linksedit
Military Awards for Valor - Top 3 (U.S. Dept of Defense)
Military Times "Hall of Valor" - AWARDS AND CITATIONS
Home of Heroes - Recipients of Navy Cross, WWII
January 01, 1970
douglas, alan, clark, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, octob. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Douglas Alan Clark news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Lieutenant Commander Douglas Alan Clark May 26 1917 August 6 2012 1 was an American fighter pilot who received the Navy Cross for his actions while commanding Fighting Squadron THIRTY VF 30 attached to the USS Belleau Wood CVL 24 on 21 March 1945 While on combat air patrol he directed his squadron to attack an enemy formation of Japanese bombers which was heavily protected by fighters Even though his squadron was significantly outnumbered they were able to shoot down over 40 enemy aircraft in 30 minutes without suffering one loss Clark himself shot down one enemy fighter and damaged another during the confrontation His quick action and the superiority of his squadron turned back what would surely have been a devastating attack on his carrier group Along with the Navy Cross Capt Clark rank at retirement received three Distinguished Flying Crosses five Air Medals a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal during his time in combat in the Pacific Theater as Naval Aviator After the war he took part in the development of the Navy s jet fighter program as well as served in the Pentagon Clark retired from the U S Navy in 1963 and moved to south Florida where he lived until his death on August 6 2012 at the age of 95 1 He was scheduled to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors Medals and Accolades editLieutenant Commander Douglas Alan Clark received the following medals nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Badge Naval Aviator Badge 1st row Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Crossw 2 service stars 2nd row Air Medal w 4 service stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Presidential Unit Citation Navy and Marine Corps w 1 service star 3rd row American Defense Service Medal w Atlantic Device EAME Campaign Medal American Campaign Medal 4th row Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w 4 service stars World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service MedalReferences edit a b Douglas Alan Clark Obituary View Douglas Clark s Obituary by The Palm Beach Post Legacy com 2012 08 12 Retrieved 2012 10 08 nbsp External links editMilitary Awards for Valor Top 3 U S Dept of Defense Military Times Hall of Valor AWARDS AND CITATIONS Home of Heroes Recipients of Navy Cross WWII United States Naval Academy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Douglas Alan Clark amp oldid 1138822871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
