Kevin George CLARK

CLARK, Kevin George

    Service Number: 435185
    Enlisted: 26 March 1943
    Last Rank: Flight Sergeant
    Last Unit: No. 635 Squadron (RAF) Pathfinder Force
    Born: Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia, 1 February 1925
    Home Town: Cloncurry, Cloncurry, Queensland
    Schooling: Not yet discovered
    Occupation: Clerk
    Died: Executed - Hamburg-Billstedt, North West Europe, 31 March 1945, aged 20 years
    Cemetery: Hamburg Cemetery, Germany
    Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial
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    World War 2 Service

    3 Sep 1939: Involvement Flight Sergeant, 435185
    26 Mar 1943: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 435185

    World War 1 Service

    31 Mar 1945: Wounded Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 635 Squadron (RAF) Pathfinder Force, Kevin was born on the 1st February 1925, the son of George Frederick and Clare Dorothea Clark, of Ashgrove, Queensland, Australia. He joined the RAAF on the 26th March 1943 and trained as a Navigator. He left Australia on the 27th January 1944 to make the journey to England where he was to serve with both No.640 and No.635 Squadrons over Europe. On the 31st March 1945 F/Sgt Clark was aboard a Lancaster Mk.I (PB958 F2-P ) which was part of a Pathfinder operation to mark the Blohm & Voss shipyards in Hamburg. Initially, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the target area and set ablaze. It was then attacked by a German night-fighter, which the Rear Gunner claims was an M.E.262 Jet. The Pilot ordered the crew to bale out but only F/Sgt Clark and F/Sgt J Kennelly managed to leave the stricken aircraft, as it had descended from 20,000ft to just 500ft. The remainder of the crew perished in the subsequent crash, with the aircraft smashing into the garden of a house at Steinkamp 23, Hamburg-Billstedt. After successfully baling out, F/Sgt Clark was captured and held in local Police cells at Ostienbek, near Glinde. He was then taken to a nearby lonely road by Heinrich Specht and Heinrich Siemer where he was shot in the back of the head by Siemer, who later claimed that the Australian had attempted to escape. His body was then taken by ambulance and buried in Rheinbeck Cemetery, near Glinde but was later exhumed by the Germans, using French prisoners of war, and re-buried in Bergedorf by the local undertaker, along with two other Airmen. His captors were tried in Hamburg in June 1946 and Specht, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Heinrich Siemer killed himself whilst in prison. F/Sgt John Kennelly, was taken prisoner at another location and survived the war. F/Sgt Clark’s body was later exhumed from Bergedorf and is today buried in the Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany with the rest of his crew.

    World War 2 Service

    16 Aug 1946: Involvement Telegraph Commonwealth of Australia Casualty Section, Department of Air, Albert Park Barracks, MELBOURNE, S.O.3. 16th August, 1946. Dear Sir, It is with deep regret that I write to you again with regard to your son, the late Flight Sergeant Kevin George Clark. Evidence has been received from Overseas Headquarters, Royal Australian Air Force, London, that your son was the victim of a German War crime. Your son baled out safely and was captured by the Germans. He was being escorted along a lonely road by a German named Heinrich Siemer when he was shot in the back of the head at close range by Siemer. Seimer was brought to trial for this crime by the United Nations War Crimes Commission and committed suicide in his cell during the course of the trial. Another German named Heinrich Specht was convicted of being concerned in the crime and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Your son was buried in the Cemetery at Bergedorf. He is to be exhumed and he will be re-buried in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery with the other members of the crew. It is realised that your sorrow in the loss of a gallant son will be accentuated by the knowledge that he has died in circumstances which are affront to civilisation. It is thought however, that you would wish to know all ascertainable facts with regard to his loss. May I again assure you of my personal sympathy and of the sympathy of this Department in the tragic loss which you have suffered. Yours faithfully, (sgd.) M.C.LANGSLOW. SECRETARY Mr. G. F. Clark C/- Department of Mines BRISBANE. Q'LAND

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