Leonard Stanley Clark
Memorial: Kingswood - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Medals: 1939–45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Distinguish Flying Cross, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Pilot Officer 177137
Parents: Walter and Elsie Clark
Home address: 71 Hill Street, Kingswood, Bristol
Date of birth: 1921
Date of death: 05/07/1944
Buried/Commemorated at: No known burial site but commemorated at Runnymede Memorial (Panel 210.), Surrey and Kingswood Memorial
Age: 22
Further information:
Leonard was the son of a master wheelwright and he was educated at Kingswood Grammar School.
Leonard enlisted in the RAF in 1941 and after training he received his commission in May 1944, joining his squadron, which was part of the Second Tactical Airforce, used to attack enemy transport and troop concentrations in the period before D-Day. The Squadron flew single-seater Hawker Typhoon 1B aircraft armed with four 20mm cannons and two 500lb bombs. After the D-Day landings, 197 Squadron re-located to France from England and provided close support for the army, circling over the battlefield waiting for instructions from controllers travelling with the troops. It would have been during these operations that Leonard lost his life. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, but his specific acts of bravery are unknown.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/197_wwII.html