Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1920 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/321,
the son of Joseph & Eliza Clarke (nee Fotherby).   Grandson of Mr. Mrs.
Joseph Clarke 172 Northenden Rd, Sale Moor, now residing at Irby on the
Wirral.    He was named after his uncle - Albert Morris Clarke, who was
killed during WW1.

A prefect at Altrincham Grammar School, but is not commemorated on the
School's War Memorial.    Employed as a Reporter in the Manchester Office
of "The Weekly News" a national weekly newspaper.

In late 1937 his mother - Eliza Clarke died, aged just 47.  A year later,
his father married Elizabeth Ellen Owen.

1939 National Registration - 13 Norton Avenue, Ashton upon Mersey.   
Joseph Clarke - Married - born on the 5th August ???? - occ: ???? Labourer
(record badly damaged).   Elizabeth Clarke - Married - born ???? - occ:
Unpaid Domestic Duties.   There were two redacted records that could be any
two of the four children of Joseph & Eliza.

13/02/42 edition of local newspaper reports that Sgt Clarke had won a
bombing and gunnery award with his 'wing' at Picton, Canada.   He had only
been in the RAF one month, when he was sent to Canada for training and had
been stationed there for six months.  His training continued in England and
he qualified as a Navigator and an Astro Navigator (a specialist skill of
being able to navigate by the stars and planets

Flying with 142 Sqn. he took off from RAF Grimsby at 20.22 hrs on the 15th
September 1942 in a Wellington Mk 4 - No. Z1480 - QT-I, for an operation to
Essen, Germany.     The a/c crashed near Düsseldorf and the crew of five
were all killed and were buried in the City's Nordfriedhof.    Reburied at
the end of hostilities.      The other crew members were - P/Off A.H.G.
Sandon (pilot);  Sgt J.W.A. Bennett; Sgt F.W. Darley & Sgt G.C. Thomas
R.A.A.F.

Air/27 - the a/c was carrying 810 x 4 lb incendiary bombs.  They were also
carrying a camera.  Of the 7 a/c that took off for this mission, only 4
managed to attack the target, the other 3 failed to return.

Air/27 Previous missions.
One of 7 a/c ordered to undertaking a "Gardening" (Minelaying) duty, they
took off at 19.32 hrs on the 15th September 1942 in a/c Z1220 (G) with a
bomb load of 2 x 1,500 lb Veg (nick-name for sea mines - as they were
"Gardening").  No camera carried - good trip - no cloud - hazy below at
final pin-point.    Parachutes seen in allotted area - excellent navigation
- very bad thunderstorm on way home - down at 01.30 hrs.   Of the 7 a/c,
only 3 managed to lay their mines, the others returned with theirs as they
were unable to pin-point.

His death was reported in the 15/01/1943 edition of the Sale & Stretford
Guardian.

Originally buried in Dusseldorf, but in 1947 was re-interred in the
Reichswald Forest Cemetery, Germany.

No. 142 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Ismailia, Egypt, on 2nd February 1918,
as an army co-operation squadron. It moved to Palestine soon afterwards and
took an active part in operations in that theatre until the end of the
campaign. Re-numbered 55 (whilst still in Egypt) in 1920, No. 142 Squadron
was re-formed in England as a bomber unit in 1934 and during 1935/36 again
served in the Middle East. In the early months of the Second World War it
served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France and on 10th May 1940,
the day the Germans invaded the Low Countries, it gained the distinction of
being the first AASF unit to bomb the advancing enemy. Later that month No.
142 Sqn was one of the Fairey Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse
bridges in a further attempt to stem the German advance. The squadron was
withdrawn to England in June 1940, and by the end of the year was
converting to Wellingtons prior to engaging in the strategic night-bombing
offensive. 

In December 1942, No. 142 Squadron moved to North Africa and subsequently
took part in the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. It is recorded
that on the night of 17/18th May 1943, Major-General James H 'Jimmy'
Doolittle, USAAF, C-in-C North-West African Strategic Air Force (in which
No. 142 served), flew with the squadron to observe the results of a raid
against Alghero, Sardinia.1 

The squadron was disbanded (in Italy) early in October 1944, but re-formed
in England later that month and for the rest of the European war served as
a Mosquito light-bomber unit of No. 8 (PFF) Group's Light Night Striking
Force. During its service with No. 8 Group, the squadron flew 1,095
operational sorties (all but 23 of which were considered successful)
gaining 64 DFC's and 52 DFM's among it's awards. The Squadron was disbanded
on 28 September 1945