The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G S Clarke

Gordon Stuart Clarke, from Bedford, was born in April 1921, the son of Harold Henry Clarke (1891-1978) and Doris Winifred Clarke (nee Faulkner 1894-1972).

He joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer. With his training completed, Clarke was posted to 248 Squadron at Dyce in June 1940.

On 28th September Clarke was one of the crew of a Blenheim which engaged and damaged a Do18 over the North Sea. His aircraft was hit by return fire and the pilot P/O CC Bennett and Sgt. GB Brash were slightly wounded. With his fuel tanks damaged, Bennett headed rapidly for home. It transpired that the enemy aircraft had to land on the sea and was abandoned by its crew before it sank.

Clarke failed to return from a reconnaissance operation to the Norwegian coast on 1st October 1940 in Blenheim R3626. He, P/O Bennett and Sgt. GB Brash were reported 'Missing’.

All three men are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Bennett on Panel 7, Brash and Clarke on Panel 12.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.