LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Bernard Roy CLARK
Service No: 434926
Born: Orbost VIC, 17 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 February 1943
Unit: No. 18 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 18 Squadron Mitchell aircraft N5-162), Kai Islands, 23 June 1944, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Jessie Vena Clark; husband of Anne May Clark, of East St. Kilda, Victoria
Roll of Honour: St Kilda VIC
Remembered: Panel 9, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River NT
Remembered: Panel 101, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 23 June 1944, N5-162 was one of six No. 18 Squadron Mitchell aircraft tasked for an anti-shipping sweep over the Kai Islands. During an attack on shipping near Tioor Island, Lieutenant Jansen reported heavy anti-aircraft fire coming from the island. He continued the attack and flame was seen to come from his aircraft. The aircraft was seen to dive into the sea and explode. Despite searching, the accompanying aircraft were unable to observe debris or survivors.
The crew members of N5-162 were:
Sergeant Bernard Roy Clarke (434926) (Tail Gunner)
Lieutenant H Jansen (Pilot) (NEIAF)
Lieutenant W Reedljk (Observer) (RN Navy)
Lieutenant Colonel E J G Te Roller (Second Pilot) (NEIAF) (Commanding Officer)
Lieutenant T Van Lier (Wireless Operator) (RN Navy)
Sergeant G Willems (Air Gunner) (RN Navy)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 24; A705, 166/7/537
Bibliography:
Hurst, D. (Doug) The Fourth Ally: The Dutch forces in Australia in WWII, Doug Hurst, Canberra, 2001