Operation: Practise Flight

Date: 25th March 1943 (Thursday)

Unit: No. Air Reinforcement Centre,. 22 Group

Type: Spitfire IV

Serial: BR667

Code: -

Base: RAF Karachi (At the time part of India)

Location: Near Karachi

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Walter Norman Clark NZ/411967 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a practice flight stalled while doing steep turns near Karachi, spun into the ground and caught fire.

The young New Zealand pilot was killed.
No further are details available.

Fl/Sgt. Walter Norman Clark. Karachi War Cemetery Grave 9.A.8. Born on the 02nd September 1920 in Auckland. Educated at Mount Albert Grammar School. Enlisted at Levin on the 23rd March 1941. Posted to New Plymouth on the 03rd May, for his elementary flying training, then on the 14th June to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Ohakea. Here, on the 06th September, he was awarded his wings and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While overseas, on the 01st August 1942, he was further promoted to Flight. Sergeant. Meantime, on the 21st October 1941, he embarked for the Far East.

Walter Clark arrived in Singapore late in November and was evacuated from there in January 1942, arriving back in New Zealand on the 24th March. After a period of leave he reported to Ohakea on the 15th April for a refresher course, afterwards embarking for the United Kingdom on the 21st June. Completed his training at 61 Operational Training Unit and then posted overseas during February for India, by way of the Middle Bast, where he arrived on the 24th February 1943. He had completed 300 flying hours with 85 on the Spitfire.

Son of William Rodger Laurie Clark and Mary Clark (née Rainey) of 23 Canal Road, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. He was engaged to marry Miss June Doreen Galloway of 38 Onslow Avenue, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.

Above: L-R: Rear; James Manendo Liggins NZ/411910, Douglas James Naismith Gibson NZ/4118818, JF Taylor, Silver Charles Bryant NZ411855, Desmond Arthur Roberts NZ/411994, John Charles Wilmshurst NZ/411962, Claude Rafel Stephenson NZ/411511, Wendell Craig Phillips NZ/41935, Cyril Charles Wrightson NZ/411998.

Centre; Horton Geoffrey Levien NZ/411987, Ian Curtis Grant NZ/41898, James Auld Morgan NZ/41928, Frank Ellison Gatland NZ/411970, Montague Eric Dark NZ/411862, Jack Bennett Reynolds NZ/411938, RS Rogers, Lloyd Westwood Foote NZ/411877, Leonard Adolphus Rayner N/411937, R Smith.

Front; Walter Norman Clark NZ/411967, Thomas Bruce Henry NZ//411895, Clarence Patrick Lund , NZ411912 James Cowan NZ/411861, Andrew Donald MacKay NZ/411919, John Thomas Hayes NZ/411893, David Haddon McMurray NZ/411990, Leslie James Waterhouse NZ/411960. Inset; Ivan Frederick Cummins NZ/41884 (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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